Inside The Show Tango Argentino


Book Description

During the dark years of the military dictatorship, Tango had fallen into oblivion all over the world, most especially in Argentina. The “Tango Argentino” show was the show that led to the worldwide revival of interest in Tango. It debuted in Paris, then conquered Broadway and, later, the whole world. Juan Carlos Copes, Miguel Ángel Zotto, and Milena Plebs, Gloria and Rodolfo Dinzel, Gloria and Eduardo, Virulazo, and Elvira are some of the artists who participated in this legendary show and are described in great detail in this book, now known as the definitive work on Tango Argentino. Every serious tanguero should know the history of the revival of Tango and this book is for them. Tango Argentino: What a book! What a book! It enchants immediately, like the show, taking us to the beginnings of Tango, accompanying us in its history, gradually creating the irresistible desire of Tango in the reader. In the book, we come face to face with the myths of the dancers, musicians, and singers. It tells us some gossip about the fights and jealousies behind the scenes and tells us also about the creation of the costumes, now iconic in the worlds of theater and fashion. We also read that Lady Diana and the Japanese Emperor Hirohito were so enchanted by the Tango that they wanted to learn it. It is finally confirmed: only by knowing the beginning of this new era, we can better understand its current global success. Tango is a universal language!




The Tango in the United States


Book Description

In the earliest years of the 20th century, North American ballroom dancers favored the waltz or the polka. But then a new dance, the tango, broke onto the scene when Vernon and Irene Castle performed it in a Broadway musical. Rudolph Valentino, Arthur Murray, and Xavier Cugat popularized it in the 1920s and 1930s, and thousands of people crowded onto dance floors around the country to hear the music and dance the tango. This work chronicles the history of the tango in the United States, from its antecedents in Argentina, Paris and London to the present day. It covers the dancers, musicians, and composers, and the tango's influence on American music.




Tango Argentino


Book Description

Slip a rose between your teeth, step out with a partner and slide into the rhythms of Buenos Aires for one of the most romantic, passionate and energetic dances of all time.










In Strangers' Arms


Book Description

The tango is easily the most iconic dance of the last century, its images as familiar as an old friend. But are they the whole story? Peeling back the poster propaganda that has always characterized the tango publicly, this intimate study shows the invisible heart of the dance and the culture that raised it. Drawing on direct experience and conversations with dancers, it reveals much about the role of the tango in Argentinean culture. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.




Masculinities


Book Description

The complex relationship between nationalism and masculinity has been explored both historically and sociologically with one consistent conclusion: male concepts of courage and virility are at the core of nationalism. In this ground-breaking book, the author questions this assumption and advances the debate through an empirical analysis of masculinity in the revealing contexts of same-sex (football and polo) and cross-sex (tango) relations. Because of its rich history, Argentina provides the ideal setting in which to study the intersection of masculine and national constructs: hybridization, creolization and a culture of performance have all informed both gender and national identities. Further, the author argues that, counter to claims made by globalization theorists, the importance of performance to Argentinian men and women has a long history and has powerfully shaped the national psyche. But this book takes the analysis far beyond national boundaries to address general arguments in anthropology which are not culture-specific, and the discussion poses important comparative questions and addresses central theoretical issues, from the interplay of morality and ritual, to a comparison between the popular and the aristocratic, to the importance of ‘othering' in national constructions - particularly those relating to sport. This book represents a major contribution, not only to anthropology, but to the study of gender, nationalism and culture in its broadest sense.




Tango Lessons


Book Description

From its earliest manifestations on the street corners of nineteenth-century Buenos Aires to its ascendancy as a global cultural form, tango has continually exceeded the confines of the dance floor or the music hall. In Tango Lessons, scholars from Latin America and the United States explore tango's enduring vitality. The interdisciplinary group of contributors—including specialists in dance, music, anthropology, linguistics, literature, film, and fine art—take up a broad range of topics. Among these are the productive tensions between tradition and experimentation in tango nuevo, representations of tango in film and contemporary art, and the role of tango in the imagination of Jorge Luis Borges. Taken together, the essays show that tango provides a kaleidoscopic perspective on Argentina's social, cultural, and intellectual history from the late nineteenth to the early twenty-first centuries. Contributors. Esteban Buch, Oscar Conde, Antonio Gómez, Morgan James Luker, Carolyn Merritt, Marilyn G. Miller, Fernando Rosenberg, Alejandro Susti




The Meaning Of Tango


Book Description

From the backstreets of Buenos Aires to Parisian high society, this is the extraordinary story of the dance that captivated the world - a tale of politics and passion, immigration and romance. The Tango was the cornerstone of Argentine culture, and has lasted for more than a hundred years, popular today in America, Japan and Europe. 'The Meaning of Tango' traces the roots of this captivating dance, from it's birth in the poverty stricken Buenos Aires, the craze of the early 20th century, right up until it's revival today, thanks to shows such as Strictly Come Dancing. This book offers history, knowledge, teachings and in-sights which makes it valuable for beginners, yet its in-depth analysis makes it essential for experienced dancers. It is an elegant and cohesive critique of the fascinating tale of the Tango, which not only documents its culture and politics, but is also technically useful.




Why Tango


Book Description

If you are interested in Argentine tango you know that, as Veronica writes in one of her essays, "Tango, no matter your involvement in it, becomes a kind of a world separate from the rest, with its own particular joys, sorrows, difficulties, rules, goals and pleasures." And in this world there are both happiness and suffering. Whether you are a total beginner or an experienced dancer, in Veronica's essays you will discover a rich source of knowledge and inspiration as she tackles complex psychological, social and pegagodical issues in tango as a social dance and a performing art. Her essays offer a profound and well articulated reflection on the contemporary tango scene, supported by insights from psychology, neuroscience, biomechanics and bodymind techniques. What is the most effective way of learning tango? Why do we suffer so much while trying to learn it? How to stay happy and healthy while engaging intensively in this activity? Why does tango bring us so much joy and how to cultivate this joy no matter your age, looks and physical capacities? These are just some of the questions the author touches upon in this book that includes her first nineteen essays written between November 2013 and December 2014. Her essays, published as a blog on her Facebook page, are shared by tango people all over the world and translated into 14 languages so far by enthusiast volunteers.