GOTAN1) History of Tango (Simple past, Since)2) Latest years (Present perfect)3) My personal experience (indefiniti)4) My future project (Will, Going to) 5) Internationality of Tango (argomentare, )

HISTORY OF TANGO: 1890s - 1940

Tango is a partner dance that originated in 1890s along the Rio de La Plata, the natural border between Uruguay and Argentina.The word tango probably comes from the latin tangere, meaning “touch”.The dance originated in lower-class districts of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, the music derived from the fusion of various form of music from Europe, since Argentina had not a national identity and it was full of immigrants that came from Italy and France.The argentine high-class decided to open the boundary of the nation for the emigrants to help to develop the nation. In that new state immigrants did not came from european high-class, but just from the lower classes that tried to start a new and better life. But it did not happen, indeed the new argentine did not do what they wanted because they were relegated in the outskirts of the city.Tango is defined a miscellaneous kind of music because it was created by those poor people, too unhappy and nostalgic.Tango in music, in word and in movement reflects that uneasiness.In that situation were born two important figures: the Gaucho and the Comprade.The Gaucho was like a cow-boy, lonely man, he loved open spaces, he hated the city.The Compadre was different from the Gaucho: he loved staying in company and dressing smartly.At the beginning this dance was performed only by men, especially sailors that danced together; later it was danced by prostitutes when they entertained men, indeed Tango is a sensual dance. Even the Tango has a rhythmic music, there are not percussions but melodic instruments including the bandoleòn.The name of the major composers of Tango are: Troilo, D’Arienzo, Di Sarli and Pugliese. All of them have Italian origins.Originally tango was an improvisation dance, but gradually it became necessary to define standard moves in order that they could be recognized and danced all over the world.

LATEST YEARS— FURTHER INFORMATIONS: 1980s - today

In 2009, UNESCO approved a proposal by Argentina and Uruguay to include the tango in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.Lately there is an evolution with the Tango Nuevo that is a fusion between old tango and electronic music.The Tango Nuevo originated both from a normal evolution of argentine tango, and to raise young people’ interest in this kind of dance .The innovation and contamination, has shocked the traditionalists, it has enriched that dance, that today has found new great exponents; like the “Gotan Project”.The Gotan Project has done a great job in experimenting this new form of Tango.

In 1980s there is a new figure: the musicalizador (music director of tango or dj).Especially, in milonga, a type of tango, there are song groups called TANDAS composed by 4 tangos or 3 milongas or valses.A good musicalizador is the one who creates TANDAS that have a continuity for director/period/type of song.Usually he alternates 3-4 songs of classic tango, a cortina, 3 milonga, a cortina ext.The cortina is a song of different genre of music, that stops the tanda, usually rock or dance music.

The Language of Tango is called “Lunfardo”, it is a dialect originated and developed in the lower classes in Buenos Aires. Lunfardo was a slang that now has been immortalized in many tango lyrics. A characteristic of lunfardo is its use of word play, named “vesre” (revés), reversing the syllables, for example Tango becomes Gotan.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

I’ve been dancing Tango since 2010. There are many reasons why I like this dance. First of all it is sensual and wonderful, it is based also on improvisation, but mostly Tango is based on feelings.With Tango I was able to travel all over Italy and dance with people of different countries and cultures, such as Argentinians, Americans, Spanish and French.Tango is part of the Argentinian culture, so I also learnt this different culture and also a bit of Spanish-Argentinian language.

MY FUTURE PROJECT

Next May I am going to visit Edinburgh for its important “Edinburgh International Tango Festival” which is settled in a castle.It will be an amazing experience and I will be able to dance with so many people and visit this beautiful city.

INTERNATIONALITY OF TANGO

Tango is a dance performed everywhere in the world, indeed I met and danced with people from all over the world and I have learnt their culture and shared a beautiful experience with them that is, of course, a few steps of Tango.Everybody from every part of the world is able to dance Tango, it is something that unify and makes us feel close to each other.