Sunday, September 9, 2018

Latin America Active Adventures: Tango Tells A Story

By Ronald Stewart


The roots of the Argentine Tango run deep and can be traced bay to the 1800 s. At the time many Africans and Europeans found their way to Argentina. The gathered collectively in pubs and began to dance. The sensual, dramatic dance seeped with the longing and need of the people of the time. The partners displayed an intimate connection and every emotion was evident and it deserves to be mentioned as Latin America Active Adventures.

The music associated with the Tango now is considerably different from that that was danced to during the original Argentine Tango. The Argentine style of music is romantic and filled with melodic tunes. The German accordion-like instrument called the Bandoneon was the primary instrument used to create the sounds. Argentine Tango is not referred to as a form of ballroom dancing, however, variations of the dance have become ballroom style displays.

Throughout history, the Argentine Tango was not seen as a competitive dance, it was done on a social level with dancers doing it for the fun and not to be compared to other dancers. However, times have changed and Tango competitions have become more prevalent.

In Buenos Aires in Argentina, there is an Annual Argentine Tango competition held each August. The competition is the World Tango Tournament and forms a part of the Tango Festival. The first of these contests were held in the year 2003. The competition is divided into two distinct categories which have their own requirements for entrance.

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.

While many may frown on Tango Competitions, there are some benefits to taking part. Competing always forces you to push yourself to improve, you want to be better than the person dancing against you. The training and intensive practice sessions mean lots of dancing and time to perfect your moves.

An Argentine Tango competition is the best place to put your skills to the test. This is where you find out if you really are as good as you think you are. A competition identifies areas where improvement is required. Nobody enjoys losing or receiving criticism, however, this should never be allowed to deny your self-esteem. It takes courage and confidence to dance and be judged, take the criticism constructively rather than to the heart. Be proud of your accomplishment and move on to becoming a better dancer.

Regardless of whether you are in a competition or not, all the competitors are in the same situation. You are all putting ourselves out there to be judged, you are all experiencing the nervous tension and you are all revelling in the cheers and applause. It is difficult not to caught up in the camaraderie of the sport. The excitement of the shared experiences allows you to develop bonds and friendships with the other dancers that go beyond competing against one another. You will find that those competing actually applaud the improvements of others and recognize achievements. Learning from one another is the key to success.




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