Argentine Tango originated in the streets of Buenos Aires around the 1880s and first appeared in brothels where men would practice and dance tango with each other to impress the ladies of the night. It was considered a sinful dance because of the association with prostitution, bars and gambling. Even the lyrics in the music would have references to sex and obscenities. Shunned by society as shameful & scandalous, Argentine Tango did not become a socially acceptable dance until 1910 when it was finally introduced in Paris and took Europe by storm as it became an international dance craze. Today, it is one of the most popular dances in the world and considered by many to be the most beautiful and romantic of all dances.
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Argentine Tango is essentially an improvisational dance where both partners are walking and moving according to the energy and rhythm of the music rather than according to beats as is the case with most dances. It is very much a conversation between both partners as they are constantly communicating their thoughts and feelings through their dance. There are no patterns or basic steps as everything is based on walking and using various elements & figures to create spontaneous movements throughout the dance.
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Although Argentine Tango can be done in either open or close embrace, the older generation still prefers the traditional style of close embrace using Classical music while the younger generation from the 1990s prefers Nuevo Tango (aka Modern Tango) which uses alternative music and allows for more freedom of expression and a richer variety of more complex and intricate and elements.
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Most people recognize Argentine Tango as being one dance that is normally taught and seen worldwide, but many are unaware that there are two other dances which are also related in the Tango community: Tango Milonga (playful dance done to rhythm that is similar to Merengue music) and Tango Vals (aka Tango Waltz). There is also a folk dance called Chacarera which is done in some milongas of Buenos Aires as well as other places around the world.
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