Javier (Rodriguez) said something during one of his private class to a chinese lady, in which I was there as a helper: "When you dance argentine tango, you have to try to think and act like a argentine woman."
"The tango is a latin dance, the women's body has lots of sensual movements, their butts are proud and showing off. The argentine women are never submissive. They are aggressive, passionate and 'in your face'. When they dance, they can be quite the bitch!"
"For example, if one day I were to try to learn Japanese 'Kabuki', I would have to think and act like a Japanese too! Without this spirit, the dance is empty and would just be a series of movements."
"So instead of dancing tango like an (stereotypical) oriental woman; submissive, shy and timid. You need to channel the 'bitchiness' inside you, like an argentine woman!"
"And no matter how much good technique or posture you have, without this spirit, tango would just be another empty dance for you!"
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Midsummer Nights' Tango Introduction Series: Part 2
Dear friends,
There is a famous saying in tango amongst the milongueros, the seasoned social dancers of Buenos Aires; 'Tango first enters through the ears, then reaches the heart and finally comes out from the feet.'
Like any dance, tango is not just movements or fanciful figures, but a heartfelt and soulful expression of the tango music.
So to really fall in love with tango, you must first know and love the music.
Un abrazo tanguero,
Isaac
Golden Age
The tango music mostly used for dancing is from the 'golden age' of tango, 1930s to 1950s. The tangos from this era are nostalgic, non pretentious and usually about the treachery of romantic relationships. They usually sing about the homeland the immigrants left behind for Argentina, the new lands of Argentina; the love ones they left behind and the women who broke their hearts.
There are countless of tango orchestras from this golden age. Just like different orchestra leaders have different taste and personalities; music from different orchestras sound different.
I'll leave the detail exploring to you, but here I'll start you off with three of the most famous ones.
The Orchestras
Juan D'Arienzo – King of the beat
"In my point of view, tango is, above all, rhythm, nerve, strength and character." – Juan D'Arienzo
D'Arienzo's music is rhythmic, powerful, playful and extremely infectious to dance to. It is characterized by an underlying steady, driving beat, above the beat plays different melodic variations of other instruments or the singer. Very often the heart wrenching melody is played by the violin.
Listen to some tunes from Juan D'Arienzo.
El Puntazo
Pensalo Bien
Carlos Di Sarli – Epitome of Tango Salon
"The piano led in a suggesting way, with an embellished bass line, which turned into a trademark of the maestro, linking the bars of the piece and stressing the delicate, elegant rhythm, especially for dancing." – www.Todotango.com
Di Sarli's music is always elegant, delicate and full of subtleties by the piano. His mid-era compositions were romantic and melancholic. His late compositions changed to very formal, profound, full of grandeur and expansiveness.
Listen to some tunes from Carlos Di Sarli.
Tu el Cielo y Tu
A La Gran Muneca
Osvaldo Pugliese – Tango Fantasy
"If Di Sarli is the epitome of tango salon, then Pugliese is the epitome of tango fantasy." – Javier Rodriguez
Pugliese's music often tells a story, great rises and falls; sweet moments and brutal moments; the beat drives and then disappear and reappears again. It is very intense, dramatic and passionate. One dances Pugliese not in moving, but often in the intense pausing.
Listen to some tunes from Pugliese.
La Yumba
Nochero Soy
(references www.todotango.com)
