Corazon A Corazon. The Tango is danced in a close, heart to heart embrace to deep, heavy melody and relentless rhythms. The entire dance consists of a passionate dialogue expressed through the powerfully staccato forward, back and side motions of dramatic steps with sharp head tosses and a stalking manner. It is a dance choreographed with musicality at its heart and soul, the movements telling a story filled with drama and melancholy, and the dancers as much instruments of the music as the bandoneon on which a tango is traditionally played.

The Tango originates in the ports and working-class slums of Buenos Aires, where in the late 1800's dock workers, ladies of the evening and laborers danced to street barrel organs in the early morning hours after work. The music and movements were influenced by European and African cultures, and derived from the camdombe ceremonies of former slave people. The seductive beat and driving rhythms allowed dancers to convey the passionate emotions of their experience and quickly became a cultural phenomenon of the era.

As the tango criollo spread through popular society it was picked up in theatres, and was first danced on a theatre stage in Buenos Aires on September 29, 1897. The fascinating music and dance traveled with orchestras and dancers to Paris, and from there spread to London and Berlin, and by 1913 had hit New York. Milongas became globally popular, as couples danced cheek to cheek at tango dance parties and tango social clubs in cities worldwide.

Back in Argentina, the Great Depression and military dictatorship banning public gatherings caused the popularity of the tango to fade, and later the increasing popularity of rock and roll nearly caused the tango to become a forgotten art. However, during the 1950's Argentina's best known bandoneon player, Astor Piazzolla, revolutionized the tango genre as he non-traditionally combined classical tango music with jazz and guitar. This turned modern tango into an eclectic free-for-all for orchestras such as The Gotan Project, which mixed tango with everything from Jamaican to hip-hop with widely popular tangos such as Santa Maria.

The flashy, intricate movements of the authentic Argentine tango attract dancers and audiences alike and keep them drawn to the music and the story of the dance. From dance clubs to the stage to the silver screen, drama unfolds in every movement of this spectacular dance form. Broadway shows such as Forever Tango, featuring Natalia Hills and Ivan Terrazas, have helped launch the tango as one of the world's most popular dances. Celebrity ballroom dance reality shows such as Dancing with the Stars and Strictly Come Dancing have brought the sultry dance style into the forefront of ballroom dance. And blockbuster movies like Scent of a Woman with Dustin Hoffman and Mona Lisa Smile with Julia Roberts have added to the popularity of the tango.

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