Where does the tango come from?
Quick answer
The tango comes from the Río de la Plata region of Argentina and Uruguay, especially the working-class neighborhoods of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, in the late 1800s. It blended African, European and local rhythms. In 2009, UNESCO listed tango as Intangible Cultural Heritage of both countries.
How tango was born
In the late 1800s, millions of immigrants, especially from Italy and Spain, arrived in Buenos Aires and Montevideo. In crowded port neighborhoods, their music mixed with Afro-Argentine and Afro-Uruguayan rhythms like candombe, the Cuban habanera and rural Argentine milonga. Tango grew in dance halls, cafés and on street corners.
From the streets to Paris and back
- 1880s–1890sTango emerges in the port districts of Buenos Aires and Montevideo
- 1910sA “tango craze” sweeps Paris, London and New York
- 1917Carlos Gardel records “Mi Noche Triste,” launching the tango song
- 1930s–1950sThe “Golden Age” of tango orchestras and dance halls
- 1980sAstor Piazzolla’s “nuevo tango” and the stage show Tango Argentino revive global interest
- 2009UNESCO recognizes tango as Intangible Cultural Heritage
Tango only became fully respectable in Argentine high society after it became fashionable in Europe.
The music
| Element | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bandoneón | A type of concertina from Germany that gives tango its signature, melancholy sound |
| Violin, piano, double bass | Core of the tango orchestra (orquesta típica) |
| Lyrics | Often about lost love, nostalgia and life in the city, using local slang called lunfardo |
The dance
Tango is danced in a close embrace, with the leader and follower improvising together. Argentine tango focuses on connection and improvisation; ballroom tango, developed in Europe and the US, has more fixed, dramatic movements.
Tango today
Buenos Aires hosts the World Tango Festival and Championship every August, and dance halls called milongas fill the city at night.
For other cultural traditions, see what a hongi is and where the hula comes from. Learning Spanish for your trip? Here’s how to say “why” in Spanish.
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