*Note: A shortened version of this post appears in the Dance section of this website.
The Argentine tango is one of my favorite dance styles. Similar to lyrical hip-hop, it also tells a story but in a very intimate and sensual way. It's an incredibly interesting dance, with sharp flicks and lots of legwork.
Here is an example of the Argentine tango, danced by Anya (fabulous ballroom dancer) and Chehon (a ballet dancer) on SYTYCD to Breathing Below Surface.
The Argentine tango is one of my favorite dance styles. Similar to lyrical hip-hop, it also tells a story but in a very intimate and sensual way. It's an incredibly interesting dance, with sharp flicks and lots of legwork.
Here is an example of the Argentine tango, danced by Anya (fabulous ballroom dancer) and Chehon (a ballet dancer) on SYTYCD to Breathing Below Surface.
When I was in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I encountered many dancers just in the streets, or at shows. I went out of my way to go to milongas and take part in the dancing myself. I'll take you through my tango journey through a series of videos!
First up: street dancers. The Argentine tango has a few basic steps, but as a whole it is mostly an improvisational, "feel-the-music" type dance. Most social partner dances are like this, which makes it more intimate but also more difficult to learn. I came across these two while just exploring on my first day.
First up: street dancers. The Argentine tango has a few basic steps, but as a whole it is mostly an improvisational, "feel-the-music" type dance. Most social partner dances are like this, which makes it more intimate but also more difficult to learn. I came across these two while just exploring on my first day.
The hostel that I stayed at (highly recommend) was Millhouse Hostel. They offered tango classes on certain days. I took a video of our teachers; I apologize for the poor lighting, but it was dark in there! Everyone partnered with another person (lucky me, my partner was also a dancer like me- he was a breakdancer) and we learned a few basic steps to get started. I unfortunately had to leave early to attend a tango show that I had booked (more on that later), but this class was incredibly fun and we all really enjoyed it!
I decided to book two different tango shows through the hostel. The first night, I attended Tango Porteño. I decided to choose this show first because it was a more historical type of show, showcasing the evolution of the tango through different dances. The place was huge and very fancy- gorgeous setting, tables for dinner (I chose to just see the show instead of also having dinner), and a live band. It reminded me of a Broadway theater.
Looking back at my notes from the show- it was an enjoyable experience, but I felt it was a little rushed with a staccato flow through the night. I had written that the vibe was very "bam bam bam" as in "dance #1" then "dance #2" then "dance #3" then WE'RE DONE GOODBYE EVERYONE! The dancing was fantastic, but some of it was uncomfortably sexual (and I am 100% fine with sexy dances, but this felt a little too theatrical and forced). Overall, it was good fun, but personally I would recommend the second place that I went to over seeing this show.
The Tango Porteño website: http://www.tangoporteno.com.ar/eng/index.html#
The second tango experience that I booked was Complejo Tango, a dinner tango show that includes a short lesson beforehand. I was picked up from the hostel at 6:45 pm and brought to the studio. After everyone arrived and we all paid, we headed up to the studio and stood in a circle watching the teacher show us a few steps. Then, we all partnered with whoever was in the room and practiced on our own. Here's a video of me and a new friend dancing some of the steps:
The Tango Porteño website: http://www.tangoporteno.com.ar/eng/index.html#
The second tango experience that I booked was Complejo Tango, a dinner tango show that includes a short lesson beforehand. I was picked up from the hostel at 6:45 pm and brought to the studio. After everyone arrived and we all paid, we headed up to the studio and stood in a circle watching the teacher show us a few steps. Then, we all partnered with whoever was in the room and practiced on our own. Here's a video of me and a new friend dancing some of the steps:
We also received certificates of completion of the Introductory Beginner's course.
The class was really fun and set us all up well for the dinner and dancing show. We were brought into a small and intimate space, with long tables set up for dinner encircling a small stage. The size of the venue allowed us to get up close and personal with the dancers- it felt like we were part of the show sometimes!
I loved that the dancers were advanced students from the Complejo Tango studio. It felt more real and a little less tightly polished than the Tango Porteño show. This show also went through the history of tango, but they smoothly transitioned between the decades and really brought the audience into the show. In terms of dinner, I thought that it was pretty good! It was a three-course meal with drinks included. Overall, the Complejo Tango experience was much more complete and fulfilling than the other show, and I would definitely recommend it to others looking to learn more about the Argentine tango.
Complejo Tango website: http://www.complejotango.com.ar/
That being said, there are other tango shows out there and I would encourage you to do a little research into the other available possibilities so that you can get the most out of your own experience.
I managed to squeeze in one more tango experience right before I left. A milonga is a tango dance hall where locals come to dance the night away. There are plenty of well-regarded milongas strewn around the districts of Buenos Aires. I went to one called La Catedral which was recommended by the hostel. When I arrived by taxi (it was much too far to walk), I was surprised to see that it was not in a Cathedral; instead, it was a sketchy building with a rickety staircase going up. I was extremely nervous- was I in the right place? Then I saw this painting and realized that this was La Catedral.
Complejo Tango website: http://www.complejotango.com.ar/
That being said, there are other tango shows out there and I would encourage you to do a little research into the other available possibilities so that you can get the most out of your own experience.
I managed to squeeze in one more tango experience right before I left. A milonga is a tango dance hall where locals come to dance the night away. There are plenty of well-regarded milongas strewn around the districts of Buenos Aires. I went to one called La Catedral which was recommended by the hostel. When I arrived by taxi (it was much too far to walk), I was surprised to see that it was not in a Cathedral; instead, it was a sketchy building with a rickety staircase going up. I was extremely nervous- was I in the right place? Then I saw this painting and realized that this was La Catedral.
I was there relatively early, between 10 and 11 pm (yes, that's early in South America!) so there weren't that many people around. It was 50 pesos to go inside the space. The vibe inside was very cool; it was dark with seats set up in a circle around an open space in the middle. People were eating and drinking at the tables, and there wasn't anyone dancing in the middle just yet. The place was interestingly decorated, with unique lights up and strange paintings everywhere. It reminded me of the ruin pubs famous in Budapest for their unusual decor. I grabbed a seat in the corner of the room and waited for the dancing to start. One thing to note- it was incredibly hot and stuffy in the room. There were large fans doing their best to circulate air, but I had to get up and start walking around to actually breathe.
I saw dancers of varying skill levels, from beginner to obviously very talented, throughout the night. As I moved around the room, I noticed men gracefully extending their hands and asking ladies to dance...it was reminiscent of an older time. I ended up leaving around midnight, but I wish I had the time and opportunity to visit more milongas.
Here is the website for La Catedral: http://www.lacatedralclub.com/
The Argentine tango is a beautiful dance and a wonderful part of Argentinian culture. If you ever find yourself in the country, please go take a class, see a show, or visit a milonga.
~burn bright~
Jess
The Argentine tango is a beautiful dance and a wonderful part of Argentinian culture. If you ever find yourself in the country, please go take a class, see a show, or visit a milonga.
~burn bright~
Jess