Tango

Dramatic, flirting, stylish, connected. The Tango is an expressive dance that demonstrates the relationships between a man and a woman.

The unique poise and hold of the Tango with the man leading and proud but with knees flexed and the woman poised and holding back aloof and haughty held in the crook of the man's arm man and woman dance with steps that are individually placed and staccato with no sliding action.

This hold and style is said to have originated from the gauchos of Argentina , the men dressed with chaps that were sweat hardened from the horses body were both less than fragrant and forced to walk with a gait bent at the knees. The women of the crowded night clubs would dance with their heads held high and away from the man but with the right hand lower towards the left hip of the man where usually he would keep his wallet.

Also, because the nightclubs were small and crowded with low tables the dancers tended to dance in circles to avoid collision and this action has been kept in the modern tango.

Finally; to complete the picture the gauchos wore boots with high heels that precluded any gliding action and forced the man to place each foot firmly and individually on the floor. This then is the picture that is portrayed by the Modern Tango.

Tango is said to have originated from Spain or Morocco and taken by Spanish settlers to the New World and then later reintroduced back into Spain . Early versions of the Tango were danced solo by women with the Adaulisian Tango later danced by two couple walking with castanets, the walking positive gait has survived to this day. The Tango has always been considered by some as an immoral dance; of course this has added to its attraction.

Two popular highlights of the Tango are first the hit by Rudolph Valentino in 1921 and more recently the tango performed by Al Pacino and Gabrielle Anwar in the film Scent of a Woman. Phrasing is an important part of the tango usually to multiples of 16 beats. The dancers must be connected with the music each other and the audience.

Modern Tango is being more and more influenced by the Argentine Tango from where traditional steps are being reintroduced, mainly in competition dancing but more and more into the general dance scene, as always fashion will dictate how this dance evolves.