Tango

Tango is a timeless symbol for the dark side of romance that has influences from Spanish and African culture. It is emotionally danced with knees flexed and staccato, clipped movements. The hold is closer and tighter than the other dances and it is danced flat, with no rise and fall. Typical patterns will include walks and rock turns and the girl will often make sharp and very quick head turns. Tango also combines sleek, hip-locked, gliding steps with abrupt stops into fans, flicks, flares, dips, and lunges.

The dance originated in lower-class districts of Buenos Aires. The music derived from the fusion of various forms of music from Europe. The word "Tango" seems to have first been used in connection with the dance in the 1890s. Initially it was just one of the many dances, but it soon became popular throughout society, as theatres and street barrel organs spread it from the suburbs to the working-class slums, which were packed with hundreds of thousands of European immigrants, primarily Italians, Spanish and French.

In the early 19th Century, the Tango was a solo dance performed by the woman. The Andalusian Tango was later done by one or two couples walking together using castanets.

The eerie music, sultry motion, and the haunting sense of dark moods barely under control make Tango a truly fascinating dance up to this time.