SALON STYLE TANGO
HISTORY
Up until the middle of the 1930’s Canyengue was the predominant way of dancing Tango. But many things happened at that time resulting in a change in the way people danced.
In 1934/35 Carlos Gardel and Benito Bianquet ‘El Cachafaz’ both died. Also, Tango was approved in Rome by the Pope bringing fame to the performing dancer, Casimiro Aín.
The ‘Old Guard’ of Tango music then shifted into the period known as the ‘Golden Age of Tango’. There is no doubt that Julio De Caro was the main person responsible for this change. It is well justified to speak about: a period ‘before’ and a period ‘after’ De Caro. Francisco Canaro and Juan D’Arienzo kept their steps in the ‘traditional way’ (among other musicians) and Julio y Francisco De Caro, Anibal Troilo, Pedro Laurenz, Pedro Maffia, Osvaldo Pugliese, Miguel Caló, Osmar Maderna, Angel D’Agostino, Ricardo Tanturi, Osvaldo Fresedo, Alfredo Gobbi, etc. lined up into ‘the new style’.
‘El Cachafaz’ was the most popular and well known representative of that former style; but at the same time he was also one of the founders of the new style called ‘Salon style’ by that group of dancers. This is the style of dance that conquered the world with its more appreciated characteristic: ‘ELEGANCE’.
From then on Tango was well known all over the world mainly for this character: its ‘elegance’. Even today if people from different latitudes are asked to define Tango as a dance with just one word, their choice will be: ELEGANCE.
MILONGAS
This is the Tango style that was and is danced in the most traditional ‘Salones de baile de Buenos Aires’ (Club Sunderland, Club Pedro Echagüe, Club Sin Rumbo, Club America del Sud, Club Glorias Argentinas, Salón La Argentina, El Fulgor, Círculo Mariano Acosta, Salón Reduci, Club Nueva Chicago, etc.) and in others born in the last ten to fifteen years (Club Gricel, Círculo Trovador, Salón El Pial, Club Banco Provincia, La Barranca, Cazadores del Oeste, Club Platense, Racing Club, etc).
DANCERS
Juan Carlos Copes, María Nieves, Raúl Bravo, Carlos y María Rivarola, Carlos Coppello, Miguel Angel y Osvaldo Zotto, Gerardo Portalea, ‘El Chino’ Perico, Facundo and Kelly, ‘Nito’ and Elba, Graciela González, Gloria and Eduardo, Julio Balmaceda and Corina de la Rosa, Francisco Santapá, Javier Rodríguez and Geraldíne Rojas, Misse brothers and sister, Arce Brothers, Macana Brothers, Mariela Guerrero, ‘El Indio’ Benavente, Robert Duvall, etc., etc., etc. are some of the professional Salon style Tango dancers, teachers and performers.
Orlando Paiva Sr. was recognized as one of the most elegant of Salon style dancers (featured in the recent movie 'Assassination Tango'). His son Orlando Paiva Jr. travels internationally and is continuing in his tradition.
RECOGNIZED STYLES
Every year, the Superior government of Buenos Aires city (where Tango was born and grew up) organizes a Tango World Championship inviting Tango dancers from all over the world. This government only recognizes two Tango styles: A) Tango Salon Style and B) Stage Tango Style.
This is also the style you can see as a SOCIAL DANCE in 100% of Tango movies…WHAT ELSE!
HISTORY
Up until the middle of the 1930’s Canyengue was the predominant way of dancing Tango. But many things happened at that time resulting in a change in the way people danced.
In 1934/35 Carlos Gardel and Benito Bianquet ‘El Cachafaz’ both died. Also, Tango was approved in Rome by the Pope bringing fame to the performing dancer, Casimiro Aín.
The ‘Old Guard’ of Tango music then shifted into the period known as the ‘Golden Age of Tango’. There is no doubt that Julio De Caro was the main person responsible for this change. It is well justified to speak about: a period ‘before’ and a period ‘after’ De Caro. Francisco Canaro and Juan D’Arienzo kept their steps in the ‘traditional way’ (among other musicians) and Julio y Francisco De Caro, Anibal Troilo, Pedro Laurenz, Pedro Maffia, Osvaldo Pugliese, Miguel Caló, Osmar Maderna, Angel D’Agostino, Ricardo Tanturi, Osvaldo Fresedo, Alfredo Gobbi, etc. lined up into ‘the new style’.
‘El Cachafaz’ was the most popular and well known representative of that former style; but at the same time he was also one of the founders of the new style called ‘Salon style’ by that group of dancers. This is the style of dance that conquered the world with its more appreciated characteristic: ‘ELEGANCE’.
From then on Tango was well known all over the world mainly for this character: its ‘elegance’. Even today if people from different latitudes are asked to define Tango as a dance with just one word, their choice will be: ELEGANCE.
MILONGAS
This is the Tango style that was and is danced in the most traditional ‘Salones de baile de Buenos Aires’ (Club Sunderland, Club Pedro Echagüe, Club Sin Rumbo, Club America del Sud, Club Glorias Argentinas, Salón La Argentina, El Fulgor, Círculo Mariano Acosta, Salón Reduci, Club Nueva Chicago, etc.) and in others born in the last ten to fifteen years (Club Gricel, Círculo Trovador, Salón El Pial, Club Banco Provincia, La Barranca, Cazadores del Oeste, Club Platense, Racing Club, etc).
DANCERS
Juan Carlos Copes, María Nieves, Raúl Bravo, Carlos y María Rivarola, Carlos Coppello, Miguel Angel y Osvaldo Zotto, Gerardo Portalea, ‘El Chino’ Perico, Facundo and Kelly, ‘Nito’ and Elba, Graciela González, Gloria and Eduardo, Julio Balmaceda and Corina de la Rosa, Francisco Santapá, Javier Rodríguez and Geraldíne Rojas, Misse brothers and sister, Arce Brothers, Macana Brothers, Mariela Guerrero, ‘El Indio’ Benavente, Robert Duvall, etc., etc., etc. are some of the professional Salon style Tango dancers, teachers and performers.
Orlando Paiva Sr. was recognized as one of the most elegant of Salon style dancers (featured in the recent movie 'Assassination Tango'). His son Orlando Paiva Jr. travels internationally and is continuing in his tradition.
RECOGNIZED STYLES
Every year, the Superior government of Buenos Aires city (where Tango was born and grew up) organizes a Tango World Championship inviting Tango dancers from all over the world. This government only recognizes two Tango styles: A) Tango Salon Style and B) Stage Tango Style.
This is also the style you can see as a SOCIAL DANCE in 100% of Tango movies…WHAT ELSE!