tango
An Argentine dance and music genre in duple meter, known for its dramatic, passionate character.
In Depth
The tango originated in the working-class neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires and Montevideo in the late 19th century, blending influences from African, European, and indigenous traditions. It is both a dance and a musical genre, characterised by a dramatic, passionate character, rhythmic complexity, and intimate partner connection.
The bandoneón (a type of concertina) became the tango's signature instrument, and Astor Piazzolla revolutionised the genre in the mid-20th century with his nuevo tango, incorporating jazz and classical elements. The tango was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2009. Its music features strong, marked rhythms, sudden pauses, and a distinctive melancholy that Argentines call melancolía del tango.
The tango was considered so scandalous when it arrived in Paris in 1913 that Pope Pius X formally condemned it, and Kaiser Wilhelm II banned his officers from dancing it in uniform.