Argentina Tango

Tango, a dance that started off in Argentina in the late 1800’s, where it developed in the slum of the city has gone through many changes to become one of the most popular styles of music and dance in the world today. The tango developed as a form of entertainment for those rootless African slaves who used the word tango for the drum-based emitting music “tan-go!”.
Argentina Tango was first known as forbidden dance because the dance revealed the sexual act between a man and a woman. However it gradually became accepted in Europe, then in
America. Tango has survived the test of time and has become a genre that captivates people even today. Tango comes through in long history. Habanera rhythms: the root of the tango
Milonga was first created as a song with lively tempo, later on it was quieted down and dance steps were added to it, making the
Milonga the first known tango and it was prevailing by mid-1840. Like the Tango, the Apache dance was also a dance of the lower class. It was then adopted by upper class. While the
Tango endures to today as a well-known ballroom dance Apache Dance remained an exhibition dance. In the process many changes occur within the culture as well in its music expression.
Suddenly tango is not any more the expression of compatriots (same race) and rough guys. Better orchestras were developed using bandoneon; type of concertina particularly popular in Argentina along with piano, guitar and other instruments. Dance was improvisational as necessary to reach high levels of competency in dance and performance environments. Famous ballroom performer Irene and Vernon Castle credited with invigorating the popularity of modern dancing brought tango onto the stage.

Sources:
“Argentine Tango.” Wikimedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Sept. 2009.Web.18