Thursday, September 6, 2018

Latin America Active Adventures: Tango Tells A Story

By Ronald Stewart


The Argentine Tango is a dramatic, sensual style of dance that portrays a sense of intimacy between the partners. Argentine Tango originated as far back as the 1800 s. Difficult times experienced during that period initiated a sense of longing and need into the dance. Primarily performed by African and European migrants in Buenos Aires. This discipline now can be experienced as part of the many Latin America Active Adventures.

The original Tango was danced to music that has a romantic undertone and is filled with the sounds of melodies. Modern-day Tango music is somewhat different in sound. The Argentine Tango was customarily danced to music that was created with the Bandoneon, a German instrument that resembles an accordion. While the modern day is classed as a ballroom dance, the original Tango was not deemed so.

The Tango was never intended as a competitive dance. People took part in the love of the dance and the freedom of expression is allowed. The dance was always intended to be a social one, not one where you are compared to others. Times are different and Tango competitions are becoming the norm.

Buenos Aires, Argentina hosts a Tango competition called the World Tango Dance Tournament. The competition forms an integral part of the Tango Festival held in the country during August. The first of these competitions or championships was held in 2003. The competition is sub-divided into two categories.

The first category, Tango De Pista is the division that requires dancers to compete according to strict rules. Traditional milonga figures are an integral requirement in this division. The second category is called the Tango Escenario. This division is the more free form of the Tango. The dances are choreographed and incorporate a variety of dance disciplines which include the likes of ballet. Primarily it was a rule that all dance pairs include a male and female participant, however, in 2013 the rules changed allowing same-gender couples to compete.

As the Argentine Tango was primarily borne as a mean of expression and took place on a social platform, it was never intended for it to become competitive in nature. Over time and as the dance evolved into the modern day Tango competition seemed the next logical step. Many people are still negative about the competitiveness, however, there are benefits that are quite considerable. It is human nature to strive to be better and competition provides the driving force to improve. The months running up to any competition are filled with extensive practice and training which encourage improvement and defining of your skills.

Tango competition is the perfect opportunity to test your abilities and skill levels. This will define whether or not your need for improvement. It is important not to let any shortcomings damage your self-esteem and confidence. Keep the dance fun and entertaining. Always remember why you started dancing the Argentine Tango to start with.

The development of camaraderie is probably the most enjoyable part of the competition. While you are competing against each other, you are all experiencing the same nerves and thrills as each other. The shared excitement of the event and the experience is the perfect opportunity to develop bonds and build friendships that will span a lifetime. Push yourself to be better and applaud those who have evidently put in the work to create a dance that is flawless. Learn from each other.




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