Tango

TangoThe Milonga is the forerunner of the Tango. The Milonga had already the characteristic head and shoulder movements that suddenly switched over to stillness.

In the beginning of the 20th Century the Milonga was danced in small theatres for the High Society from Brazil. in that period the name was changed from Milonga to Tango, the Milonga name carried to many memories from the ghetto's of Buenos Aires.

The Tango was introduced in Europe, actually in Paris in the Argentine community. Until 1907 the Tango was not accepted in London, the dance was to erotic and had many opponents. After some stylistic changes the Tango was acccepted by Paris and London that was the time (1912) of the tango-parties, tango-teas and tango-soupier with professional tango demonstrators.

In 1920/1921 the Tango was standardised at the Conference in London, during the "thirties" the staccato actions merged in to the Tango choreography.

History - Tango
This dance comes from South America (mainly Argentina), where it was first danced in "Barria de Las Ranas", the ghetto of Buenos Aires.

It was then known under the name of "Baile con corte" (dance with a rest). The "dandies" of Buenos Aires changed the dance in two ways. First they changed the so-called "Polka rhythm" into the "Habanere rhythm" and secondly they called it Tango.

From 1900 onwards several amateurs tried to introduce the dance from Argentina into Paris, but without success. The Paris teacher Robert made great efforts to make the Tango popular. Still, the path of the Tango was not strewn with roses.

There were many supporters but also many opponents. Especially the French bishops were against this dance. They pointed to the tempting and sensual nature of the Tango, and those who danced it were said to endanger the holy sacraments.

In 1924 Dr Boheme from New York even discovered a new disease: the TANGO-foot. The press, too, came with strange news. On 30 may 1915 the New York Times published an article with the following headline: THE TANGO-DANGER, BIGGER THAN GERMAN IMPERIALISM. Nowadays such messages would raise a few eyebrows.

How things have changed.... Jim x