(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Argentine Tango

            
            
             Tango, an explicit dance that started off in Buenos Aires in the late 1800's has gone through many changes to become one of the most popular style of music and dance in the world today. From a grimy beginning to a prestigious end the Tango has survived the test of time and has become a genre that captivates people even today.
             History and Importance.
             In the 1800's dances such as the Contradanza and Minue were very popular social dances performed mainly by people of the middle and high classes. These socially accepted dances were performed standing opposite each other with minimal or no physical contact. The most was the holding of hands at certain points. It was the Viennese Waltz and the Quadrille that first became the popular dances incorporating the intimate touching and close holding of the other dance member. The Polka was the second popular dance which originated in Europe that used the same dancing style as the Viennese Waltz with intimate touching and holding. In today's time it is common for a couple to dance in close proximity and hold each other tightly. It must be understood that in the second half of the 19th century, this dancing style was considered outrageous and shameful. It was this Polka dancing style that was later taken to Argentina where it was to reach new heights.
             Around the 1880's in bars, gambling houses and brothels along Rio de la Plata in Buenos Aires is where the Tango originated. It was the poor local residents of Buenos Aires which included many immigrants from Europe who begun this world-wide phenomenon called the Tango. The poor, drunk, lonely men of Buenos Aires were the first ones that experimented with this new dance from abroad with ill reputed women such as prostitutes. It can be easily argued that in such circumstances any experimentation in terms of the dance steps was very possible and was performed. Perhaps this is why the original lyrics of tango songs included references to sex and coarse language.


Essays Related to Argentine Tango

1. Tango

... ) known as the milonga, which combined Indian rhythms with the music of early Spanish colonists; and other influences, including Latin (History of the tango)."" The lyrics of tango were generally improvised, and were regarded as obscene by the Argentine socialites. Respectable families and women did not want any part of this dance or music, even women in brothels had to be paid. As ... tango began to spread and wealthy intellectuals began to become interested in this music they began writing socially-acceptable lyrics for Tango; the original lyrics of the Tango were very sexually explici...

  • Word Count: 1157
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Argentine Culture

... is not a culture only based on the region, it is a mix of cultures especially, because of the constant immigration of the Eastern people in the past. The Argentine culture is very special in the way they relate with people. One problem of the Argentineans is that in many occasions they don't have the feeling of collectivism and seem ... typical foods are the asado (the most typical argentine food) and the other can be the guiso although, some families still transport their culture from one generation to another and eat some food that is not common in Argentina, for example, in my case ...

  • Word Count: 660
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Music of Brazil

... period in which they were created, one born during a time of growth and the other created in a time of struggle. Argentina and Uruguay: Tango The birth of tango took place towards mid-19th century, with the formation of dwelling conglomerates around the young city of Buenos Aires. Those who lived there, peasants ... they belonged in their new home, they began to create cultural expressions derived from this mixture. This was the start of tango, characterized by its extremely closed codes, which were only accessible to the working classes. Due to this impossibility of understanding by oth...

  • Word Count: 1351
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Why is sexuality stereotyped in dance?

... on eof his movies with Jamie Lee Curtis, Jean Claude Van Damme has taken ballet along with David Lee Roth (ex-Van Halen singer), and Al Pacino learned the Argentine tango for "Scent of a Woman". Patrick Swayze is also well known for his incredible dance ability and yet he is a married heterosexual man. The stereotype associated with male dancers, in my ... ...

  • Word Count: 2707
  • Approx Pages: 11
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Latin America Colonization

... to Argentina. Although this gave Buenos Aires a more European feel, the country would struggle with its national identity. On the other hand, certain aspects of Argentine society, the Pampas, the Gaucho Martin Fiero and the Tango helped find a distinct national identity even within the diverse population. Even though, some political progress was attained, the social strata were maintained with the elite landowner ... ...

  • Word Count: 2984
  • Approx Pages: 12
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question