The History of the Tango
Written by Patsy Holden
The exact date of the origin of the Tango is unknown and the history of its initial development is not clear. However,
the Tango’s roots lie somewhere in the late 1800’s in Argentine, and the influence of African slave drums is undeniable.
Additionally, the exact beginnings of the word “Tango” are also questionable. It may be of African origin itself, meaning
“closed space” or “reserved ground.” It could also come from the Portuguese word “tanguere,” meaning “to touch.” Both
options seem logical enough when applied to the original form of the Tango, the Argentine Tango, and its characteristic
styling. Whatever its origin, the word “tango” acquired the standard meaning of the place where African slaves and free
blacks gathered to dance (Brown).
Between 1869 and 1914,
Polish, Russian, and native-born indigenous Argentineans all borrowed music and dance styles from each other, resulting in
an incredible melting pot of cultural diversity. “Traditional polkas, waltzes, and mazurkas were mixed with the popular habanera
from
the Waltz, the Mazurka, and the Polka, combined with the variety of religious and cultural traditions, blended into a type of music
that had a flavor of its own. It is believed that the Tango was born in African-Argentine dance venues, where young men who,
were native-born and poor liked to dress up in “slouch hats, loosely tied handkerchiefs and high-heeled boots with knives
tucked casually into their belts” (Brown), could mimic and explore music and dance styles of the upper classes, while being free
from the conservative scrutiny of those upper classes so as to create a dance all of their own. These men, also known
as compadritos, are believed to have taken this dance back into the slaughterhouse district of Buenos Aires, where they
performed it in low income dance establishments such as bars, dance halls, and brothels. In this dark environment, the
African rhythms and the milonga music, combined with sultry and shady women who were paid to be danced with, provided
the perfect environment for the creation of the seductive Argentine Tango.
The Argentine Tango of today is a preserved and codified style of the Tango that was danced in historic
can easily observe the seductiveness of the young women who were paid for dancing and sexual pleasures. The dance position
and patterns that are still danced today are still very intimate. Because of the intolerance of white upper-class Argentineans to
closed dance positions between men and women, men who loved the Tango would dance with each other in order to practice
and create new patterns that they would then use in the brothels with paid women.
Although it was seen by high society as an activity that was scandalous, ”well-heeled sons of the porteno oligarchy were not
averse to slumming” (Brown). By the beginning of the twentieth century, the Tango was a well-known dance and style of music
that had spread to other Argentine towns such as River Plate and
to
of audiences which appreciated its artistic and sensual qualities, the Tango quickly spread to the entire east coast of the
States
Castle, America’s ballroom sweethearts, the issues regarding the closed dance position in Argentina were quickly being swept
away as sons of wealthy families began to teach the Tango to female relatives and neighbors using modified and less sexual
dance positions. As a result, we now have two styles of Tango. The Argentine Tango, as previously mentioned, is a
preserved version of the original Tango from
of the upper classes of the early 1900’s.
Bibliography
Brown, Susan August. “Argentine Tango: A Brief History.” Argentine Tango History. 26 Sept. 2006. <http://www.tejastango.com/tango_history.html>