It was in the early 20th century that tango began to garner the attention of people globally. During those days, many regarded this dance form as vulgar and inappropriate for the general public. In such a conservative environment, it came as a cultural shock to a whole lot of people.
Besides, it was something new and unusual to almost all of the Western world. They had never before seen the European, African, and Native American influences in a dance form. Tango evolved during the late 19th century in the lower-class districts of Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires.
The performances were generally restricted to dance halls and streets. It was the combination of a lighter form of flamenco and milonga, which was an Argentine dance. It also had a possible influence of Cuban habanera. The first tango song that came out was Toma Mate Che, which had a quintessential Argentine flavor to it.
Tango has been around for more than a century now and has developed significantly over the years. However, it never lost its Argentine roots. Here are a few astonishing facts about this intriguing dance form:
1. Tango first gained popularity among the working class
It won’t be wrong to say that this dance form started off from the underprivileged areas of Buenos Aires. It originated in the mid-19th century from the south of Buenos Aires. This part of the city was inhabited by immigrants from Europe and Africa.
So, just like jazz, tango first became a hit among the working class of the area. They would dance on the street and enjoy this amazing fusion of African, European, and gaucho styles.
2. Tango became popular owing to a shortage of women
In 1914, there were about a hundred thousand more men than women in Argentina. The reason for having so many men in the country was that most of them came immigrated only for earning money. They worked and raised enough money so that they can take their earnings back to their families.
One of the easiest ways for a man to get closer to a woman was visiting a brothel or becoming a good dancer. So, this dance form was the result of an intense desire and longing for a partner.
3. Tango became the first dance of couples in Europe that included improvisation
Until tango gained popularity in Europe, most of its dances were based on sequences. All the dancers had to dance in unison. This changed when tango became immensely popular in Europe, starting in the French capital, Paris. It later spread to the other countries of Europe.
People began enjoying improvisation in couple dance for the first time in this part of the world. When the upper class Portenos learned about the popularity of tango, they re-imported the tango they once hated.
4. Tango had to go underground from 1955 to 1983
A new military power took over Argentina after the ouster of general Peron in 1955. This right-wing, conservative group did their best to wipe out tango from the society completely. The new government comprised members of the upper class. They had an intense dislike for anything that general Peron considered good.
When Peron was in power, he often used tango to fulfill his political aims. So, the military government banned many tango songs and prosecuted the dancers. Despite all of this, tango survived. When the military rule ended in 1983, this dance form began gaining popularity once again.