1433  The three tangos

Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 01:38:19 -0400
From: Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: The three tangos

Contemporary ballroom dancing comes in two styles American and
International.
American was created by the mayor US studio chains Arthur Murray and Fred
Astaire and by the independent US studios.
The international style was created by the British, particularly by the
Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and the International Teachers
Association. While most of the world uses International exclusively, both
styles are popular in North America.
American was derived from International to adapt it to social dancing. Many
dancers start learning this style and continue with International.

International keeps a close body position, American allows separation of the
bodies.

Please see my prior note "talking while dancing".

International is used for competition although it can be used for social
dancing as well.


The original Argentine tango was totally different from these ballroom
dances in many ways as described before.

It suffered changes in Argentina, Europe and North America to become
socially acceptable; and afterwards to conform to the other ballroom dances
(this last only in Europe and North America).

The beat became more prominent, the freedom of movement as expressed before
was removed. It became necessary to step following a certain pattern of slow
and quick steps combined in different forms and following musical phrases of
eight or sixteen beats.

The posture was changed from an 'A' frame to a 'V' frame. The upper bodies
apart the lower closer. The faces that originally looked to each other or
were check to check now are apart. There are jerky movements of the heads.
It became more dramatic. There is communication with the partner at a
physical level. The high concentration is not necessary. The faces remain
serious.
The student learns certain fixed patterns counting steps (usually 10 for
each level).
There is more exhibition of the upper bodies and less of the legs.

International and American tango are elegant but somewhat artificial
comparing to the more natural Argentinean style.

The music tempo was changed and many beautiful tangos were created in the
USA and the rest of the world (Japan, Germany, Turkey, Finland, Italy,
France, etc.).

It seems that International and American are borrowing more and more of the
rich Argentinean choreography (this is also seen in rumba and bolero).

The three tango styles are beautiful and very interesting when danced
properly.