Tango as an Art Form: Most Famous Tango Shows
It’s no secret that tango means many things to many people.
From the passionate embraces that fill dance floors and stadiums around the world to the lively music that drives it home, tango influences every aspect of life in Argentina and beyond.
But apart from being a social dance,
some enthusiasts wonder about tango as an art form.
Let’s explore another side of tango that elevates it to an art form.
The Complexity of Tango Music and Dance
George Pytlik, in “The complex simplicity of Tango,”
described tango as a unique dance, given that the dance uses more walking steps than other dances do,
but it doesn’t mean that dancers have more time to think of which figure to do next.
“Yet there are things about the way this walking action takes place that are utterly foreign to how we normally walk.
Every forward step taken with the left foot must be placed on the line of the right foot, yet with the right side leading.
Likewise,
every backward step with the right foot must be placed on the line of the left foot.
The feet lift off the floor where in the other dances they glide in constant contact.
The knees are kept slightly bent throughout the dance, leading to a very level and horizontal style of movement as compared to having rise and fall.
There is no sway, since there is no swing action. The hold is different, to accommodate the sudden changes of direction or movement.”
Tango’s complexity allows us to be creative and express ourselves differently. Its complexity is indisputable, but its artistry continues to lure people in. Why?
Because tango enables us to understand “art” in ways other dances just cannot.
Watching a couple dance tango is like watching a story unfold on the floor; learning how they’re making something complex look simple and smooth is an art. TangoForge in “Tango Complex: An honest introduction to Argentine Tango” also said:
“Most social dances are improvised, but in tango every change of foot must be led.
The follower cannot determine what to do from her mind. She has to surrender to feeling with total concentration. In exchange for this, she gets to be delighted by the leader’s unique expression. Repetition of pattern is anathema. A leader must be clear, but a charming leader is also unpredictable.
Professionals bored with their routines find a fascinating challenge in the geometry and improvisational schemes of tango.
Brilliant salsa and swing dancers turn to tango seeking new challenges. Engineers are particularly good at systematically exploring the permutations.”
Types of Tango Shows
Tango as an art form is showcased through tango shows where performances take on a more theatrical form.
Many discover and explore tango through tango shows, which are usually professionally choreographed and have a storyline performed by dancers. Tango shows can range from traditional to modern, exploring different types of tango.
Folkloric
Many tango shows use folkloric music as their foundation, utilizing traditional tunes and steps passed down for generations.
Tango is Buenos Aires’ traditional music, but folkloric tango shows include other traditional dances. These shows give people well-rounded music and dance experiences.
Historic
Some tango shows also take place in historic venues, often featuring a dinner show. These shows focus on more traditional tango music and costumes, taking people back to when the dance first emerged decades ago. Some venues have welcomed iconic tango performers from the past, such as Carlos Gardel!
Luxurious
Luxury has also made its way to tango shows featuring modern designs and music. Professional dancers showcase the best of their abilities in stunning contemporary performances in luxurious settings, giving people a truly grand experience.
Tango shows are excellent ways to learn about tango, and it’s impossible not to call them “art.”
Decades of culture and passion have been distilled into a few mesmerizing minutes, creating art that will captivate your senses.
Anyone who wants to know tango better can find sublime beauty in tango shows!
Most Common Narrative of Tango Shows
Tango High and Low in “Is tango an art?” discussed how tango shows are designed for the theater.
They may lack the “social dance” aspect, and some performers may not profoundly understand tango, but every show is carefully calculated for a story.
Generally, as said by Bulent Y Lina in “IS TANGO DANCE EASY?”:
“Tango is about life, about relationships and about love. It is not necessarily the romantic love that we all refer to. It is the love in an embrace, in the moment and the music that you shared and expressed with your dance partner.”
Tango was the music of the homesick people who migrated to Buenos Aires.
Each song shared the stories of immigrants, and, unsurprisingly, tango shows are designed to tell their tales. As Tango High and Low said:
“None of this would matter were it not for the fact that much of the world bases its understanding of tango on the mythology projected by such traveling shows: love, betrayal, violence, sex. The same themes can be found in films such as Carlos Saura’s Tango, which incorporates a dramatic narrative line and highly stylized dance routines. The story revolves around a tango couple whose relationship is coming apart and descends into suspicion, jealousy, and murder.”
Many tango shows take these narratives as a basis for their stories. They may explore these themes with new storylines or take the classic tales and tell them from an entirely new perspective. Ultimately,
tango shows perform about life, love, and relationships. The type of show also plays a part, highlighting different lifestyles and cultures.
Tango Shows and the Best in Buenos Aires
If you find yourself in Buenos Aires, the most famous tango shows offer outstanding performances that capture the essence of tango.
You can watch La Ventana or Michelangelo for tango shows featuring folkloric music. If you’d instead like to explore tango as an art form in an intimate setting, Tango Porteño and Rojo Tango are perfect, with the latter adding a luxurious vibe to the experience.
On the other hand, El Viejo Almacen provides audiences with a classic tango show with history. The Buenos Aires tango house has welcomed some of the city’s most iconic tango artists, including Anibal Troilo, Osvaldo Pugliese, Roberto Goyeneche, and Leopoldo Federico! Another excellent option is the Cafe de los Angelitos, where Buenos Aires’ intellectuals, poets, and artists used to meet. The legendary Carlos Gardel was one who attended!
There are many tango shows in tango’s home city and other cities worldwide.
While popular culture’s version of tango makes some tango lovers question its accuracy, it’s still a great way to appreciate tango as an art form and pay homage to the masters of this dance.
Somewhere beneath those flashy lights, the sounds of the enchanting Argentine tango will be heard.
Most Famous Shows and People Related to Them
Thanks to its talented artists, tango has a long, vibrant history. Tango shows also pay homage to the masters of tango, often featuring performers who have dedicated their lives to this art. Two of these famous shows are for Carlos Gardel and Astor Piazzolla.
Photo from LandingPadBA
Carlos Gardel Tango Show
It’s impossible not to mention Carlos Gardel when talking about tango. He’s the most famous tango singer of all time and composed many classic tango songs that are still performed in tango shows today.
Gardel’s unparalleled voice and lyrics tell stories of love, loss, heartache, and passion.
As said by MasterClass in “Guide to Tango Music: A Brief History of Argentine Tango”:
“It was the singer Carlos Gardel, though, who popularized singing tango with the song “Mi Noche Triste” in 1917, becoming the biggest star in tango music and ushering in tango’s golden age… This golden age began with Carlos Gardel’s untimely death; musicologists define the golden age of tango as the years from 1935 to 1952.”
The Esquina Carlos Gardel Tango Show brings you back to the roots of tango in the city.
It features a beautiful style from the 20s, with singers, musicians, and dancers paying homage to the most famous tango icon through the two-hour tango show.
Piazzolla Tango Show
Another iconic tango show is the Piazzolla Tango Show, a tribute to Astor Piazzolla.
He’s one of the most influential figures in the history of tango, creating a unique style of music called Nuevo Tango.
Piazzolla’s innovative and dynamic sound has made him one of the most beloved tango composers. As explained by MasterClass:
“The most globally famous of the tango evolutionists is Astor Piazzolla. When international audiences think of Argentine tango, they likely imagine the tango nuevo (“new tango”) that Piazzolla pioneered in compositions like “Adiós nonino.” There was mutual admiration between Piazzolla and New York jazz musicians, which further engrained tango into the culture of the United States. In newer forms of tango, such as the jazz style of tango music, improvisation is common, blending jazz with the influences of European classical music and Latin American folk music in traditional tango.”
The tango show focuses on Piazzolla’s great works. Another thing that sets it apart from other tango shows is its location, a restored Art-Nouveau theater built in 1915. Audiences can expect a pure traditional atmosphere and experience!
Unique Tango Shows Deviating From the Norm
Tango shows can focus on stories of love, betrayal, violence, and sex. Some also explore suspicion, jealousy, and murder.
These themes only prove that when you move from classical and folkloric tango, the possibilities are endless! We know two unique pieces that break out of what’s familiar:
Photo from wbur
The Arrabal
Based on a book by Tony Award® nominee John Weidman,
the tango show Arrabal is a coming-of-age story following the heroine, Arrabal, who discovers the violent history in Buenos Aires’ underground tango clubs.
The show discusses the political violence that threatened Argentina in the 1970s. Arrabal is directed and co-choreographed by Sergio Trujillo and choreographed by Julio Zurita, with music by Gustavo Santaolalla / Bajofondo.
Celina Colby, in “‘Arrabal’ tackles a dictatorship through the art of tango,” wrote about the tango show and said:
“There are mournful moments… There are romantic moments… But ultimately,
this story is about revolution, and the ability of a community to bounce back from the darkest of times.
Tango and Argentina, are sensual, violent and strong. The Buenos Aires that we visit in “Arrabal” never settles, even if it means losing people along the way.”
Arrabal is unique because it brings a different perspective to tango as an art form, with its controversial political content.
Other common themes in tango shows are also present, but Arrabal offers a distinctive and alternative angle.
Desconcierto
Desconcierto combines tango, theater, audiovisual arts, and other disciplines to create a unique show.
Its story follows Clara and Sandro, an ordinary couple who hold on to their love despite the monotonous routines, longings, and unresolved conflicts. One of them reveals that they suffer from “multiple personality disorder,” introducing them to more characters, including Loki (humor), Ruth (desire), and Rivas (violence).
It’s easy to say what makes Desconcierto different from other tango shows:
it’s a surrealist story with characters embodying different emotions and representing the complexity of life. It also taps into mental health.
This show takes us away from the traditional tango show, blending it with new techniques and themes to create a unique visual and auditory experience.
Tango Is Many Things to Many People
Tango as an art form is a result of its rich history and the various cultures that have contributed to it.
It’s a cultural phenomenon, full of stories from different eras and backgrounds. Tango shows, especially the famous ones, are a way to appreciate tango’s evolution and influence on Argentina and world culture!
Every tango show is uniquely-crafted, exploring different themes, emotions, and stories.
It’s these unique aspects that make tango shows special and why it continues to captivate audiences all over the world. You can learn about tango through folkloric and classical music, but there are also tango shows that take you on a different journey.
From traditional to modern, tango shows intrigue you with their story-telling, music, and visuals. So, if you want to explore the beauty of tango as an art form, check out the most famous tango shows to experience a truly incredible journey. You won’t regret it!