Brief History of Tango

Argentine Tango originated in the late 19th century in the Río de la Plata region, particularly in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay. It emerged in the working-class neighborhoods, especially on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, where a diverse population of European immigrants, African descendants, and native Argentines mingled. The music and dance were influenced by a blend of African rhythms, European dances (like the waltz, polka, and mazurka), and Cuban habanera as well as the local country poetic and  musical styles called 'payada' and 'milonga'. In the early 1900s, Tango began to gain popularity among the middle and upper classes in Buenos Aires, transitioning from working-class barrios to the city center. The music evolved, with the bandoneón becoming the quintessential instrument of Tango. By the early  1910s, Tango had begun to make its way to Europe, especially Paris, where it was embraced as an exotic and fashionable dance. This international acclaim helped elevate Tango's status globally.

The period from the 1930s to the mid-1950s is often referred to as the "Golden Age" of Tango. During this time, Tango became a dominant cultural force in Argentina, with countless orchestras, dancers, and composers contributing to its rich tradition. Iconic figures like Carlos Gardel, Aníbal Troilo, and Juan D'Arienzo as well as female singers and composers like Azucena Maizán or Tita Merello helped shape the sound and style of Tango during this era. The dance halls (milongas) in Buenos Aires were filled with people dancing to the music of live orchestras. 

After the mid-1950s, Tango's popularity declined due to several factors, including the rise of rock and roll, changing cultural tastes among the your generations, and political instability in Argentina. The genre was overshadowed by other musical forms and went through a period of stagnation. However, the 1980s and 1990s saw a resurgence of interest in traditional Tango, both in Argentina and internationally. Productions like 'Tango Argentino', which toured globally, helped reintroduce the genre to new audiences in Europe, Japan, and the United States. Since the early 2000s, Tango has continued to evolve, with new orchestras, styles, and dancers emerging, while traditional Tango remains a vital part of Argentina's cultural heritage. The latter is called within the industry as the "New Golden Era of Tango," in which new compositions and covers of traditional tangos create a new soundscape that reflects contemporary approaches to the genre.