ABOUT THE TANGO
Tango is a dance originating in Argentina. It was shaped by the African community in Buenos Aires and has roots in African dance forms. The story goes that gauchos wore chaps that held hardened from the foam and sweat of the horses’ body causing them to walk with their knees flexed. They would go to the crowded night clubs and ask the local girls to dance. Since the gaucho hadn’t showered, the lady would dance in the crook of the mans’ right arm, holding her head back and away. The man danced in the curving fashion because the floor was small with round tables, so he had to move around and between them. Another version of the story says that the Tango is dance with bent knees because the night clubs had low ceilings. The dance continued to evolve in the back streets of Buenos Aires, gaining popularity. Like the Waltz, it challenged the conventions of acceptable public behavior of the era and was initially met with resistance before receiving widespread acceptance.
TANGO SYLLABUS
Based on the International Style Standard Syllabus
* Walks
* Progressive Side Step
* Progressive Link
* Closed Promenade
* Rock Turn
* Open Reverse Turn, Lady Outside
TECHNIQUE FOCUS POINTS
* Positioning of HeadBent Knees (No Rise)
* Timing
DANCE ORIGIN
* Argentina
* Capital: Buenos Aires
* Official Language: Spanish
* Population: 40,091,359 (2010 est.)
* Currency: Peso
* Government: Federal Presidential Republic
* Country Flag
* Map of Argentina
