Tango Tea
Tango Tea has its roots in the British tea dances of the early 20th Century. It was simply a matter of introducing the elegant dances of the day at British afternoon tea. In 1910, the new Tango from Argentina was all the rage. These "Tango Teas" became very popular. The sheet music at the right is from an exhibit at the National Museum of Australia and dates to 1913.
Tango Teas have gained a new revival. The London Waldorf Hilton recently introduced a once a month Sunday afternoon Tea Dance into its schedule. The London Waldorf dates its tradition back to 1908!
The dance at a Tango Tea is Tango de Salon. This is a style of tango meant for a crowded dance floor, where it is important to follow a line of dance and be respectful of other people on the floor. It is the tango of Argentina in the 1930's, and the tango you will still find if you visit Buenos Aries. The music is the traditional tango music of the 1920's and 1930's.
Below is a wonderful video of a "Tea and Tango Movember" fundraiser for cancer research held in Toronto, Canada. Not only does it show the fun you can have with a Tango Tea, it also features the traditional Argentine tea drink known as the Mate.
"Tea & Tango in Movember" from Studio Amarelo on Vimeo.
