The Characteristics of Classic Tango

Dancing tango is not merely stepping to the beat of the music being played—that perhaps is how disco is danced, but not tango. Dancing tango is dancing the sentiment and emotions embedded in the music. Sentimentality is a defining characteristic of classic tango. Created by early immigrants to Argentina, tango embodies the homesickness and nostalgia of its creators and reflects their thirst for love and longing for a better life (see Tango: The Historical and Cultural Impacts). Modern rock bands with electronically amplified instruments might be able to create a more majestic sound, but they cannot replicate the lingering sentiment of classic tango. This is not only because modern electronic instruments are ill-suited to convey the emotional depth of tango, but also because contemporary rockers lack the experiences of the early immigrants. Classic tango is a product of a specific era in Argentina. The environment of its mass production has ceased to exist in modern times, but the human emotions expressed in classic tango are universal and timeless, which people of the contemporary age, especially those struggling at the bottom, can still understand and resonate (see Why People Dance Tango). Dancing tango, one should not just dance the steps and ignore the emotions of the music, because only by understanding and resonating with these emotions can one dance tango well.

The emotions expressed in classic tango reflect the experiences of the men and women of its time, represented by two distinct yet intertwined moods. Classic tango is intrinsically heterosexual in nature. Its rhythm is masculine—resolute, strong, steady, and predictable—while its melody is feminine—soft, emotional, moody, and beautiful. Each note or phrase conveys the strength, courage, and determination of men, or the tenderness, affection, and obedience of women. These two contrasting moods intertwine, reflecting the dynamics between the two sexes in the dance. When dancing tango, you have to imagine you are playing music with your body. The man and the woman are different instruments: one is like the bandoneon, the other like the violin; one embodies the passion of the drums, the other the beauty of melody; one is philosophy, the other poetry. Each, with its unique sound, expresses a distinct emotion. Both are indispensable and irreplaceable, and they must harmonize, complementing one another to create a beautiful tango (see The Gender Expression in Tango).

Those who dismiss gender roles do not know what they are doing (see The Gender Roles in Tango). The so-called “new tango” or “alternative music” they advocate often lacks the contrast that defines classic tango. It is either overly soft, lacking a clear rhythm, or overly monotonous, devoid of rhythmic variety. In contrast, classic tango music was meticulously developed to meet the demands of the dance. Unlike mushy soft music or monotonous marches, classic tango music features a distinct rhythm rich in syncopation, making it exceptionally danceable. By altering the accented beats and introducing rhythmic variety, syncopation opens up numerous possibilities for footwork, allowing dancers to express complex emotions (see Tango Music and Its Danceability). While syncopation can be challenging for beginners to grasp, leading some to prefer simpler alternative music, over time, with education and experience, their tastes often evolve and change. Tango dancers need to study tango music and familiarize themselves with its melody, rhythm, tempo, syncopation, pauses, and extensions to truly understand tango and dance well.

Most classic tango songs include a vocal part, which typically does not run throughout the entire piece but appears selectively, as if cooperating with the other instruments. The lyrics are commonly written in lunfardo, the old street slang of Buenos Aires’s lower classes, expressing nostalgia, homesickness, and the pain of lost love. These are the songs of immigrants. Today, only older milongueros and a few porteños can fully understand these lyrics. For those unfamiliar with them, following their syncopated and elongated syllables can be challenging. Nevertheless, these beautiful lyrics express delicate emotions and are cherished by milongueros, many of whom can sing and dance to them with remarkable ease. This is one reason why milongueros perceive their dance experience quite differently from foreigners. Not understanding the lyrics is a disadvantage of the foreigners, but that is not an insurmountable obstacle. A dancer’s education can help bridge this gap because, by truly listening, one can feel the sentiment and emotions of the song through its melody, rhythm, tempo, tone, and mood. Of course, learning the language further enhances this understanding. By the way, some foreigners know neither the culture nor the language of tango, but they thought they understand tango better than the milongueros. To me, this attitude is both arrogant and absurd (see Tango and Gender Equality).