Tango is a mystery that two people dance. Argentine tango

For more than a century, the passionate, exciting, rhythmic dance called “Argentine tango” has annually won the hearts of millions of people around the world.

Tango gained popularity back in the 19th century, in Buenos Aires. In those days, this still very young town was already inhabited not only by aborigines, but also by emigrants. The music created specifically for this dance is a “cocktail” of melodies different nationalities and cultures. However, this can also be said about the movements - the milonga, born in Argentina, the habanera from Havana, Indian ritual dances, flamenco from Spain and even the German waltz - they all shared a piece of their individuality to make the tango, which for many people is not just dance, but a real lifestyle.

History of tango

When at the beginning of the 20th century the country's population reached one and a half million, it was no longer possible to figure out which nationalities became the ancestors of certain cultural characteristics. In Argentina, at that time, there were many Spaniards, Africans, British, Italians, Poles, Russians and aborigines who constantly borrowed music from each other, dance moves, introduced their traditional elements into them and produced completely new, unique “products”. This is most likely how tango appeared.

Everything you need to know about tango

Argentine tango, despite its characteristics and seemingly precise technology of performance, is an improvisational dance that is built from four main elements:

* step;
* turn;
* stop;
* decoration.

In order to make the process exciting, passionate and enchanting, partners must develop their own style, a special sequence of movements and come up with bright, unusual decorations. Even professional dancers, despite preliminary agreements, cannot know exactly how the dance will take place.

One turn or extra step can make it completely different, direct the flow in the other direction and give the audience a truly unforgettable experience. First of all, Argentine tango is a fusion of hearts and souls, and only then, a strict technique consisting of a “set” of steps. It is worth noting that this direction has the only strict rule- Argentine tango is always danced counterclockwise. It differs from its “ballroom” counterpart in balance, movements, the presence of improvisational elements, music and even steps.

Music and movement are very popular not only in dancing. For example, figure skating is very often accompanied by these fiery melodies, and elements are also used in synchronized swimming, gymnastics and other “beautiful” sports.

Types of Argentine tango

* fox;
* salon;
* fantasy;
* milognero;
*orillero;
* nuevo.

Let's try to look at each of the varieties in more detail.

Liso

This style owes its appearance to cramped, crowded dance halls, in which, often, there was not enough space to make turns, rotations or figures and partners could only perform simple moves, press closer to each other, but so that everyone has enough freedom to insert a certain “decoration”.

Salon

This tango is performed by partners who deliberately move to the right of each other and are positioned in the shape of the letter V. The style is without a doubt one of the most refined, and is distinguished by the distance of the partners from each other, which allows them to perform complex figures and turns. However, it is very important to follow a certain line of dance, in otherwise all meaning may be lost.

Fantasy

"Fantasy", at its core, is a stage style of tango, designed specifically to create spectacular, exciting shows. This includes several styles at once - salon, orillero and nuevo, and even elements of ballet that are not characteristic of any other type of tango.

Milognero

This trend originated back in the forties of the 20th century, when dance floors were small, and there were so many people who wanted to dance, and even a fox, which had a rather modest “scope,” could seem like an unaffordable luxury. This tango is still popularly danced at parties and nightclubs, because the close contact of partners’ bodies and the intimacy of hugs is perfect for events where people come with their couples or in search of a soul mate.

Orillero

This style is very reminiscent of a salon, but the movements of the dancers are more relaxed, the contact of bodies is minimal, and all decorations are performed with the scope inherent in tango in its classical sense.

Nuevo

This is a modern, recently created direction, which has not yet acquired its own characteristics and distinctive elements. In fact, the dancers themselves contribute to its development, adding completely new movements, inventing original figures and steps.

Despite such a variety of directions, tango was, is and remains a dance in which a man and a woman must not only convey movements, but also understand each other and give a charge of energy and positivity to the audience and their partner.

When about a year had passed since the start of my tango lessons, I began to wonder where, in fact, the word itself came from. tango", what the hidden meaning does it carry, or is there no intrigue at all? Searches in various dictionaries, encyclopedias, and the Internet provided rich food for thought. From time to time, friends and acquaintances are also interested in the subject of my hobbies. So gradually the idea of ​​an article was born, in which I wanted to put together all the information that I managed to find on this issue. Everything that you read in this text is by no means the ultimate truth and does not at all pretend to be the truth. This is just a short list of existing hypotheses, myths, legends, guesses with an admixture historical facts and certificates.

One thing is absolutely certain: the word “tango” appeared much earlier than the dance under this name arose. This word is not at all Argentinean origin. As it turns out, traces of it can be found in African dialects. It was used in one form or another in the Congo, Nigeria, Tanzania, Sudan, as well as in the Canary Islands and various parts of America. Thus, Vincente Rossi pointed out the possibility of the origin of the word “tango” from any of the African dialects. This theory is presented in his book Cosas de negros (Black Affairs) published in 1926.

Another tango researcher, Ricardo Rodriguez Molas, agrees with Rossi and cites whole line words that could become the progenitors of “tango”. For example, the Nigerian Yoruba tribe worships the god "Shango". In Congo there is a dance called "lango". The Bantu people use the word “tamgu” to mean dance as such.

Jose Gobelo, an authority on the subject of tango, adds to this that in Tanzania there is a "tanga" region and Lake Tanganyika. African-South Americans perform ritual dances called "tang" to drums, which are called "tango" or "tambo" (possibly from the Spanish word "tambor" - drum).

Molas points out that in the Congo the word "tango" means "circle", "closed place", "private space, entry into which must be asked." Gobelo adds that the word can be interpreted as “meeting place” and “special place.”

Slave traders under the word " tango" meant the places where slaves were collected before being loaded onto the ship. It also designated places where slaves were kept and sold in America. Perhaps this is how the word “tango” appeared and took root in the port cities of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, which for a long time were transit points for the slave trade.

Many researchers agree that the original meaning of the word “tango” was a closed space where Africans gathered to dance, and later this dance itself.

Some researchers have traced the interpretation of the word “tango” in different editions of the Dictionary of the Spanish Royal Academy of Literature. The results are very interesting. For example, the 1899 edition defined "tango" as "the fun and dance of the negroes or lower classes in America." The second meaning of the word is “music for this dance.” IN in this case America should be understood as the Spanish part of the entire continent without Canada and the USA. A 1914 edition finds the origin of "tango" in Latin and attempts to connect it with the verb "tangir" ("to play instruments"). For example, the expression “ego tango” means “I play.” There you can also find a mention of the word “tangere” meaning “to touch”. These references were later removed from the dictionary, perhaps because their correctness was questioned. The 1925 edition of the Dictionary added the following interpretation of the word “tango”: “a dance of high society, imported from America at the beginning of the century.” This is how, on the pages of one book, “tango” went from the “lower” to the “higher” strata of society. It was only in the 1984 edition that the term “tango” acquired its current meaning - Argentine dance.

Here are some more interesting versions of the origin of the word “tango”. IN different time the Chinese Tang dynasty, the French verb tangier (to touch), a certain Mexican song “ancient tango” (a link to it was found in the archives of the Holy Inquisition in Mexico), unrestrained dances of black colonists called “tangO” ( with an emphasis on the "o") and even the Japanese who lived in Cuba (according to Eduardo S. Castillo).

There is probably no point in arguing which of the mentioned versions is closer to the truth. Most likely, there are other explanations, meanings and meanings of this word. Moreover, the dance itself, which is now referred to as “ tango"has undergone major changes and has been called differently in different periods time. But that's another topic. If you know any other information related to the issue raised, share it in the comments, it’s interesting.

In order to understand the soul and emotionality of tango, you need to study its history and answer the question in which country tango dance originated. The word has African roots and roughly translates to “meeting place.” In one of the African dialects, “Tang” means “to touch, to approach.” No one knows for sure the true meaning of this word.

The tango dance originated at the end of the 19th century in the neighborhoods of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, where emigrants from African countries lived. In the initial version, only men danced it, and in groups. The dancers stood in rows and, performing certain dance movements, gradually moved towards each other. It was a group dance. It became a pair, with the participation of a man and a woman, much later. The tango dance was born in the country of Argentina on dance parties Afro-Creoles from a mixture of African dance style candombe and Spanish, as well as Hawaiian styles. During African celebrations, serious fights often broke out, so these events began to be prohibited by the authorities. However, they were still carried out underground. IN this option During the dance, couples came together and parted to the beat without bodily contact with each other. This trend was picked up by suburbanites and transferred to saloons.

Gradually this dance direction, as it came out to the masses, many currents poured in. Modern tango and candombe are now united only by a similar rhythm, which is inherent in most Latin American dance movements that have undergone African influence.

Soon this emotional dance broke out beyond Latin America. A new stage in the history of tango dance is its appearance in Paris at the beginning of the twentieth century. It experienced a real boom in popularity. Even a specific trend, “tangomania,” arose, which determined the fashion for parties in this style. From France, this movement spread throughout Europe. There were some prohibitions. It was officially banned in Italy, England, and Russia, but nevertheless gained wild popularity.

Description, styles and characteristics of tango

A simple description of a tango dance will not convey the wild fire of passion that the dancers create. It is more like a small performance by two actors, which is better to watch with your own eyes. Unlike other dances, in this case improvisation is welcomed and plays big role in the emotionality of the performance. When deciding to learn how to dance the Argentine version, you should prepare for the fact that it can awaken completely new emotions that a person did not even suspect about. Every movement has deep meaning and expresses passion.

The most common styles: Argentinean, Finnish, ballroom. The most famous Argentine style has its own varieties: liso, orillero, salon and others. The Finnish style originated in Finland, and has certain features that were imposed by local dance movements. The ball version is the most difficult and requires professional skills; it is more of a sporting nature.

Main characteristics of tango dance:

• time signature 2/4;
• number of beats per minute 32-33;
• emphasis of execution on beats 1 and 3;
• movements - hard, sharp, without swings.

Whether to choose this dance direction, and what type of tango to practice, the answers to these questions can be found if you see with your own eyes the performance of one or another option.

To make the performance look exciting, partners need to develop their own unique style, because every extra step or turn can change the interpretation of the dance process. Even experienced dancers cannot predict exactly what sequence of movements will result in the next dance.

This amazing dance was born in late XIX century, when in search of happiness and better life Immigrants from Europe, tormented by famine and wars, began to arrive in Buenos Aires. And, as a reminder of the homeland, except musical instruments, they took with them musical traditions and dances of their countries.

Since ancient times, in Argentina there has been a style of song, and then dance, called “milonga”. These were cheerful or ironic songs of traveling musicians. The same became the dance, which later, paradoxically, had the most important influence on the emergence of tango. In the 19th century, individual movements began to be selected from dances brought by immigrants from Europe and adapted to the milonga, paving the way for the first version of tango. This dance fully embodied all the emotional intensity, all the strength of the experiences of people who, by the will of fate, left their homeland.

Milonga, according to José Gobelo (founder of the Accademia del Lunfardo, considered an authority on the subject of tango), is a word from the African Quimbunda language, being the plural form of the word mulonga. "Mulonga" means "word" in this language. Thus, "milonga" means "words." In 1872, when José Hernandez published his most famous book, Martin Fierro (which describes the life of a gaucho in verse), Argentine cowboy), the term milonga has already acquired the meaning of a certain gathering where you can dance. A decade later, in 1883, Ventura Lynch wrote: “On the outskirts of the city, the milonga is so generally accepted that it is danced at all gatherings of people, it can be heard performed to the music of guitars, accordions, combs and paper, and street musicians play it with a flute orchestra, harps and violins. It is also danced in cheap casinos around the markets in September 11 and Constitution Squares, during other dance events and funeral processions."

Nowadays milonga has several meanings: style of music, dance, public place, where you can dance, as well as its original meaning (many words, or a long story). For example, in the phrase “no me vengas ahora con esa milonga” (“don’t start all this chatter now”).

As for the term “tango”, there is no consensus on its origin. If we look at the prehistory of tango, everything becomes covered in a thick fog. The word “tango” appeared much earlier than the dance with that name. The word first appeared outside of Argentina, on one of the Canary Islands, and in other parts of America, with the meaning of “a gathering of blacks for dancing, for playing drums; Also, African name this drum." The Dictionary of the Spanish Royal Academy of Letters, published in 1899, defines Tango as “The fun and dance of the Negroes or the lower classes in America,” and also gives a second meaning to the word: “Music for this dance.” Here we must remember that for Spanish world, America is an entire continent, not just the USA. In this case, the dictionary spoke about the Spanish part of America, excluding the USA and Canada.

The dance itself (dance technique) is structured in such a way that without the impulse of a man, a woman will not take a step. It really takes two to tango, because this dance does not fit into the concept of “man leads, woman follows.”

By the beginning of the twentieth century, Argentine tango was ready to conquer Europe. At first he was “sheltered” by France. This happened thanks to the rich Argentines who regularly visited Paris - their receptions were regularly attended by the nobility. From Paris, the dance immediately “moved” to other European capitals. Conservative Europe began to actively study and become interested in Argentine tango, organizing parties with the participation of orchestras from Argentina. The bold and uncompromising nature of the dance caused constant irritation and prohibitions from those in power, but attempts to stop the popularity of this sensual dance with its touching hips and intertwining legs had no success. Even women's fashion I had to change in order to adapt to the tango movements - the very bulky dresses of that time were replaced by lighter and looser ones.

All over the world, one after another, salons and schools of Argentine tango began to appear, and in Europe, the aristocracy organized the so-called “tang o tea” - tea parties accompanied by tango. The seductive and frank dance provoked real tangomania. In the 30s and even in the early 40s of the last century, tango remained the No. 1 dance. And in the 50s, faced with new forms of pop music, tango was forced to give way and move into the category of “classics”, which was treated with respect rather than with pleasure. Young people became interested in new musical trends...

But today tango is returning to us again in the original style as it was and is danced in Argentina, when a man and a woman rediscover the charm and pleasure of dancing together. Adults come to tango mature people who already know a lot about themselves and the world. “Calm masculinity”, “elegant femininity” - this is said about men and women in Argentine tango. And by adapting themselves “to tango” (including by mastering dance techniques), men and women really develop these qualities in themselves.

Tango does not stand still, it develops dynamically. This is expressed in the styles of this dance. There are usually four groups of Argentine tango styles: milonguero, tango salon, tango nuevo and tango fantasy. Milongeros dance at milongas; Nuevo and Fantasia require more space and are danced most often in shows; the salon is more versatile; it can be successfully danced both on a crowded dance floor and in a show.

Louis Armstrong once said: “If you ask what jazz is, no one will answer you.” Argentine tango has much in common with jazz music in the sense that improvisation has no established rules, but there are common practices and methods. People studying jazz music or Argentine tango, exploring improvisation options. And in this sense, the properties of Argentine tango are determined by widespread improvisation practices.

Argentine tango is always improvisation, often even between people who don’t know each other. They do not agree on anything in advance, do not prompt each other’s movements.

Tango is a special language that a man and a woman speak without words.

The musical style that existed in Argentina gave rise to a new type of dance called milonga. Traveling musicians played funny songs, and the audience danced to the beat to this music. In the 19th century, emigrants, dancing the milonga, added dance movements from their country, forming the first elements of tango, the one that expresses the emotional intensity, inner anguish and experiences of people who left their homeland. In which country did tango dance originate? Let's talk about this in our article.

What is Argentine tango?

Louis Armstrong once said: “If you ask, no one will answer.” Also Argentine tango. It has a lot in common with jazz. in which there are no rules, but there are practices and methods. When studying dance, first of all, improvisation options are learned.

Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez (“Let's Dance”) or the charming Al Pacino (“Scent of a Woman”) dance tango spectacularly and passionately in films.

Tango professionals - Sebastian Arce, Javier Rodriguez - dance simply superbly. But this is a show, staged dances. Real Argentine tango is a simple dance ordinary people. It is deep and sensual, not for spectators. It is for two, or rather for three: two dancers and music. in which hugs are more important than steps, we can say that this is the body language that partners speak.

The beauty of the dance is that the partners do not know each other. However, if you start dancing with one partner, you need to go with him through four blocks into which the milonga is divided. Doing one or two dances with a partner and then leaving is indecent. Here all events unfold as in life. In the first dance, the partners get to know each other, in the second they “get used to each other,” in the third, when they have already become sufficiently acquainted, the culmination of the relationship occurs, and the fourth dance is a farewell.

Birthplace of dance

The birthplace of tango is Buenos Aires. In the slums of this city, which became a haven for emigrants, a dance was born that combined elements and motifs of flamenco, African rhythms, Cuban habanera and milonga performed by traveling musicians. Thus, tango, which appeared between 1860 and 1880, became a complex interweaving of musical and dance traditions different countries Europe, where emigrants came from in search of a better life.

It should be noted that the first wave of emigrants were mainly men. They came to earn money so that they could later move their families. Among them were singles who came to Buenos Aires to get rich. Work took up most of the day. In the evening it was time for entertainment and relaxation. Everyone chose for themselves what to do. Many went to clubs where there was alcohol, music, and dancing. It was there that there was fertile soil for the birth of tango - a symbiosis of many cultures and dance traditions. From this time the history of tango dance begins.

Initial reputation of the dance

The place where emigrants who came from all over the world lived was on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. The area was called Arrabal (suburb). Here, right on the street, beggars lived, thieves ply their trade, and women lung behavior - prostitutes. This audience danced tango like in gambling clubs and brothels, and just on the street, or in cabarets and bars.

Over time, the idea of ​​dance and its emotional background acquired a wide variety of shades: from unhappy love and longing to sarcasm. But never dancing people didn’t convey theirs through tango good mood or euphoria.

Argentine tango was danced by men in entertainment venues with their friends. There was even an opinion that this was only a male dance. For them it was a way to show off themselves, demonstrate their talents and please a woman. But at the end of the 19th century, women first entered the world of tango. These were prostitutes from brothels. The dance of machos and prostitutes - this is how tango was called in the middle of the last century, and for this reason it was considered indecent.

How did the dance come to Paris?

To this day, some people find out in which country the tango dance originated: in Argentina or Uruguay. But no matter where it appeared, it was still brought to Europe. Their parents sent young people from wealthy Argentine families to study in European countries. Enterprising maestros, who did not hesitate to receive life lessons in brothels in their homeland, where they mastered tango, brought it to Paris, infecting local youth with tangomania. The Parisians liked the dance. It was performed at all city events. Soon, all of Europe became acquainted with this dance; in the homeland of tango, in Argentine society, the dance was accepted only after recognition in Paris.

Prohibitions and persecution

However, not everyone liked the closeness of dance partners. Not without persecution from the church. Pope Pius X was going to ban Christians from dancing indecent dances. The situation was saved by Romanian dancers who danced tango in the Vatican without emotion or passion. The trick and calculation worked, the ban was lifted.

In Russia, this amazing dance also became popular at the beginning of the 20th century. Although the decree of the Minister of Public Education officially banning tango was issued in 1914. The fate of tango was once divided Viennese waltz, mazurka and polka. Despite any prohibitions, the dance, as they say, went to the masses and people liked it. They listened to a languid and passionate melody from played gramophone records. The rhythm of the tango included "Splashes of Champagne" and " Burnt out by the sun", sincere songs performed by Pyotr Leshchenko and Alexander Vertinsky.

Popularization of dance

The unity of two elements of dance: the world of music and dance art The Argentine singer and composer Carlos Gardel, the son of an emigrant from Toulouse, was able to carry through his life. He played a significant role in the popularization of tango. In what country did the dance originate? In Argentina, it was she who became the founder of tango. This is where the popularization of dance in the world began. Juan Darienzo created a rhythmic tango using modern arrangements. Carlos Di Sarli is a classic of melodic and lyrical dance. Stage tango was created by Osvaldo Pugliese. Started in the 90s of the 20th century new wave tangomania. Tango schools began to open everywhere, inviting teachers from Argentina to work there.

Megalopolis phenomenon

Tango that spectators see at competitions ballroom dancing- it's just a show. Real Argentine tango, as mentioned above, is improvisation, without spectacular steps. Dancers pass the music through themselves, it is a conversation between two bodies, a drama that ends with the last bars of music. This dance needs to be felt. The Russians can do it. They are considered the best dancers in European countries, and the Argentines recognized this. And it doesn’t matter in which country the tango dance originated, the main thing is that it lives and develops. He has lovers and admirers.

Of course, Russia is not Argentina, where dozens of cafes are open to tango lovers every evening. Dance evenings (milongas) are held even during the day. During the lunch break, Argentines run to dance. In Russia, in particular in St. Petersburg, milongas are held several times a week. They are a real phenomenon of the metropolis; at such evenings you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Argentine streets, passion and love for several hours.

How to dance?

Argentine tango is very different from other dances. In his choreography, the sequence of steps is not memorized, it is born in the rhythm of the partner’s dance to the given music.

But if we talk about learning tango, then there are several basic movements in the dance: “eight”, “turn” and “carry”. Its beauty lies in the improvisation and momentary inspiration of partners. Each dancing couple interprets sounding music in his own way and expresses this through movements. Once you practice a little, you can come to milongas - dance evenings organized by tango lovers around the world.

In tango lessons one learns to feel a partner, a sense of rhythm and space, and at the same time the ability to improvise. This dance, like no other, expresses feelings without words, demonstrates to the viewer unique stories and simply gives pleasure in perfect harmony. It is very problematic if a partner begins to control herself, her legs, tense her body, be afraid of mistakes, turning into a lump of muscles. In dance, details should fade into the background. We can say that this dance is comparable to a trance accompanied by music, during which the great amount energy.

Tango schools

As a rule, tango lessons in schools are taken by people for whom dancing is a necessity, not a pastime. Moreover, age does not matter. By learning to dance, people understand how to express the freedom of their emotions through movement. The idea of ​​the dance is the interaction between partner and partner, which is transmitted through hands and the contact of bodies.

Partners are taught to “lead,” that is, to make movements so that the partner makes certain steps or figures. This is, of course, a very simplified approach to dance. In normal dance there is actually no such thing. It would be correct to say that there is a dependence of the partner’s movements on the partner’s movements. In a dance, a man does not think about steps, he thinks about the direction of movement, where he will move the woman in the next second.

When learning tango, the partner must understand that the partner may not go in the same direction or take the wrong steps. Sometimes women try to decorate the dance by making movements with their feet that they think their partner will not notice. Nothing wrong with that. Nothing stops him from going after her. In dance there is no predominant role of the leader and the follower; the main thing in it is to feel the partner, and this is manifested both in the ability to lead the partner and follow her.