1395  a rose between the teeth

Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2003 17:24:09 +0800
From: Kace Ong <kace@PACIFIC.NET.SG>
Subject: a rose between the teeth

Dear list,

We have all heard about the cliche of the tanguera dancing
with a stalk of rose between her teeth. This image is so
deeply ingrained in popular culture that in our beginner
classes we have to start by telling them there will be no
roses.

Since I have tried in vain to find the origin of this cliche,
I would like to consult the experts on this list: when and
how did that image enter the popular consciousness?

Kace

Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2003 23:50:57 +0900
From: astrid <astrid@RUBY.PLALA.OR.JP>
Subject: Re: a rose between the teeth

> Since I have tried in vain to find the origin of this cliche,
> I would like to consult the experts on this list: when and
> how did that image enter the popular consciousness?
>

The rose between the teeth is part of European ("Continental") stage tango.
I believe, it was first shown in a movie with Rudolfo Valentino, which would
make it the 1920ies.
Correct me if I am wrong.
Actually, my aunt, during her career as a dancer, once danced a tango on
stage in Germany in 1940ies or 50ies, where they were dancing acroos the
stage, left cheek to right cheek, walking in the espejo, knees bent, and the
one closest to the audience, held a rose between her/his teeth. When they
reached the end of the stage, they dramatically turned into the opposite
espejo hold, then passed the rose to the other one's teeth, so it would be
at the audience's side again. She told me all that, when I started to learn
the Argentine tango and attended the milongas in Berlin, decades later.
I highly doubt it, that it would have ever been used in Argentina, but who
knows? Anyone?

Astrid

Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2003 13:16:54 -0400
From: John Gleeson <jgleeson@CONCENTRIC.NET>
Subject: Re: a rose between the teeth

The Rudolph Valentino movie referred to (the "gaucho" dancing with the
rose between his teeth) is the silent film - "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse".

John G.


----- Original Message -----

Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2003 10:50 AM
Subject: Re: [TANGO-L] a rose between the teeth

> > Since I have tried in vain to find the origin of this cliche,
> > I would like to consult the experts on this list: when and
> > how did that image enter the popular consciousness?
> >
> The rose between the teeth is part of European ("Continental") stage tango.
> I believe, it was first shown in a movie with Rudolfo Valentino, which would
> make it the 1920ies.