The Argentine tango is Argentina’s contribution to the world of dance. Although most Americans identify the tango as simply a sultry partner dance the creation of the tango is deeply rooted in the economic and migrant history of Argentina, and more specifically Buenos Aires.
In the late 1800’s, the impoverished state of Europe initiated many people to migrate to the New World. Migrants from Spain, Ireland, Italy, Germany, and Turkey fled Europe with the hope of a better life. Most migrants dreamed of settling in New York but instead many landed in Buenos Aires, Argentina. To their displeasure, Buenos Aires wasn’t the escape from poverty that they fantasized. During this period, most migrants were men who left their families behind to build a home before uprooting their spouses and children. Most emigres, especially those from …show more content…
Originally, the Tango was danced by two men and was referred to as “the tango of the compadron”. This ballet-like version of the Tango portrayed a story between two men ensued in symbolic mortal combat which often ended in real warfare. During this early time, when a man danced the Tango alone it symbolized the person’s hopes and sorrows. Around the turn of the century women found their way into the Tango. Most of these women were prostitutes who worked in “kilombos” or brothels and used these places as showplaces for the Tango. Many male emigrants would come to the kilombos to dull their loneliness through female companionship and would wait in long lines to do so. Kilombos owner’s hired bands to play for the men while why waited in line. The bands were typically trios of musicians playing a violin, flute, and guitar. They would play the most popular habaneras and waltzes and many men would dance in the streets with the female prostitutes. Since most lacked dance training their dance would consist of walking movements and a lot of body