User:Tobyilove

The tango (YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE THIS TEXTWORK!!!) Dance beginnings, - In Argentina and Uruguay. In the 1870s and '80s, Brothels ('enramadas' and 'quilombos') were an integral part of life in Buenos Aires and in Montevideo, - for both men and women. They were meeting places for young unmarried men. It was here that the Tango was born. Initially, the dance might best be described as the rubbing together of the male and female genitalia areas while moving to the rhythm of some dance music. From these crude beginnings, it soon developed into something slightly more acceptable to society, and soon became popular first in the "barrios" (slum areas) and then throughout society. The dance was soon found on the street corners (with couples dancing to the music of 'Hurdy Gurdys"), in bars, dance halls, and even in upper class venues. (In 1902, the Teatro Opera, began to organize Gala balls that, among other dances, included Tangos.) In both Montevideo and Buenos Aires, the Tango was danced at sordid "pedringundines" (very poor local venues near the dock areas). Here's what the inside of a Pedringundine might look like. (Photo source unknown.). Listen now to a tango recorded in 1912 "La Chirimoya Argentina", sung by Arturo A. Mathon (1887-1933) some 5 years before Gardel sang "Mi noche triste").

Circa 1900, in Argentina, and Uruguay, the Tango was a mixed picture. In addition to the White European immigrants, there were also many Blacks of African-Argentine ancestry. Musicians such as El Mulato Sinforoso, El ***** Casimiro, 'El Pardo' (né: Sebastian Ramos Mejia), were some of the early musicians devoted to the Tango. ('El Pardo' was also one of the early exponents of the bandoneon, - the "button box" that has become the soul of the Tango.) In 1912, Armenonville -the first cabaret in Buenos Aires, opens. (photo: source unknown). It was soon followed by another named Hansen's

The first European Tango craze took place in Paris during the very early 1900s, and shortly thereafter in London, Berlin, and other capitals. By 1913, it had arrived in New York city. However, by ca. 1922, the Tango crazed wained somewhat due to the newer craze for the American Toddle, Foxtrot, Charleston, and other "Red Hot Jazz Age" dances arriving in Europe from America.