Tango… How Did It All Began

When most people think about Argentina, they think about Tango. Well, somehow it is true, Tango and Tango dancing is in the very soul of Argentina, specially in Buenos Aires.

Tango has a long history, and many stories. It is believed that the starting point for the Tango was the decade of 1880 by the Rio de la Plata as a form of entertainment for the many labourers of European descent who settled in the poorer areas of Buenos Aires as they tried to make their fortune in the New World. Since they had left their loved ones behind, the men were lonely and frequently sought out the company of ladies of the night. While waiting for their favours, the men entertained each other with their new dance invention, dripping with sorrow and longing as well as a touch of aggression.

Initially, the Tango was played with a violin, a flute and a guitar. The bandoneon, which gives that unique tango sound, was not a part of the Tango until a couple of decades later, around 1900 when gradually it started replacing the flute.

The most representative artist in the history of the Tango was Carlos Gardel, known as “El Zorzal Criollo”, whose charisma and talent were more then impressive. He was famous not only in Argentina but all over the world. The “Day of the Tango” is celebrated in Buenos Aires on December 11th, Carlos Gardel’s date of birth. If you want to learn more about Tango, you might find useful the following link… http://www.gardelweb.com/

There is more info coming up on the next articles…