What It Takes to Tango 170 Rising High

ARGENTINA’S RIGOROUSLY SENSUAL DANCE REQUIRES TECHNICAL MASTERY—AND A TOUCH OF FIRE IN THE SOUL.

Has any other dance appealed to our senses like the tango? Picture Oscar Award-winner Al Pacino, as the visually impaired Frank Slade, with Gabrielle Anwar in Scent of a Woman, as they showcased their joy and passion on the floor. Their routine, considered one of the best in cinematic history, wasn’t perfect but it incorporated both physical and emotional connections, both of them essential to this dazzling dance. The tango dates back to the 1880s, when Argentine street dancing meshed with eclectic, African-inspired styles from Uruguay. Danced by couples (as opposed to a later Spanish version that is performed by a solo woman, giving the lie to the truism “it takes two”), the Argentine tango was favored mostly by the working class and European immigrants. Many of them, far from their home countries, infused a hint of melancholy into their moves. Perhaps they gravitated to a high level of intimacy: A dancing pair locks in either an open (arm’s length) or closed (chest to chest) embrace and engages in a fast-paced, follow-the-leader game of footwork.

Young men especially took to the tango, and they helped raise its popularity across the region. And when Argentina’s wealthier residents traveled and took the new dance to Europe, particularly to large cities like Paris and Berlin, the tango became a hit.

As the dance spread globally in the early 20th century, it was met by some resistance. Its sassy, splashy combination of African, European and South American influences was a shock to some authority figures, and it was later denounced by the Catholic Church and other religious and political entities because it was seen as sexually suggestive. Economic turmoil, Argentina’s political struggles and the rise of other forms of dance and music helped cool the tango fever—for a while.

The dance remained relatively dormant until the 1980s and ’90s, when Argentine singer Osvaldo Peredo and his tangoinspired music helped renew interest in the tango, launching a renaissance that has continued in this century. It was featured in films from Strictly Ballroom and True Lies in the ’90s to Frida and Shall We Dance in the early 2000s. In 2009, UNESCO declared the Argentine tango a part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Today, organized groups such as Argentine Tango USA promote the movements and cultural significance of the tango, while global events like the Buenos Aires Tango Festival & World Cup attract thousands of visitors annually. The tango is also one of the most anticipated routines on the reality competition show Dancing With the Stars (see “Buenos Aires, Where the Best Compete,” at right).

Argentine tango is also taught as a fitness program that focuses on moving to the rhythm of the music and keeping healthy heart rates going. As an exercise, the tango can help strengthen muscles, develop balance and improve coordination. Healthcare professionals also praise the tango for boosting emotional wellbeing, spiritualty and mindfulness. All this, and a naughty reputation too—who can beat that beat?

Buenos Aires, where the best compete

Former Olympic ice dancer Meryl Davis tangoed with choreographer Maksim Chmerkovskiy, earning a perfect score on season 18 of Dancing With the Stars in 2014. Country singer Jana Kramer and pro dancer Gleb Savchenko did the same five seasons later. There’s suspense and plenty of action with every tango routine on DWTS, but you should check out the cutthroat competition at the Buenos Aires Tango Festival & World Cup. This event, held every fall, draws more than 400 championship couples from all over the world to compete in a variety of categories. The week-long program (details still to come) also serves as a showcase for Argentina’s culture, inviting visitors to participate in varied activities, enjoy entertainment and circuses and, of course, learn how to tango.

American dancers hoping to qualify for the World Cup must win the Argentine Tango USA (ATUSA) Championship, scheduled this year for July 7–10 in San Jose, California. The ATUSA Championships have seven categories, including Tango de Pista (salon tango) and Tango Escenario (stage tango), each of which has three stages of competition. Other categories—open to amateurs, professionals and seniors—are less rigorous but still highly competitive. The reigning ATUSA Tango de Pista champions are Adriana Salgado and Orlando Reyes of New York, while Anton Domansky and Alisa Burkina, also of New York, are the defending Tango Escenario champs.

IF YOU GO…

WHAT: ATUSA Championship and Festival WHEN: July 7–10, 2022 WHERE: Doubletree by Hilton, San Jose, California INFORMATION: tangousachampionship.com

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