Born in the slums of Buenos Aires in the last decades of the 19th century, the tango has survived for more than a hundred years. Today it is the focus of a new cult in the Americas, Europe, the Pacific basin and Japan. In this book, four experts on the dance from Europe, North America and Latin America explore the history of the tango from its beginnings to the present day. Its roots are traced to Argentina and its rise from the brothels of Buenos Aires is charted. The tango craze of the early 20th century in Europe and North America is discussed, along with the dance's peak years in Argentina between 1920 and 1940. Finally, the popularity of the dance in recent times is assessed, looking at the wider arena of literature, films and the arts. The book also contains the lyrics of some of the most celebrated tango songs, with a list of CDs available.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
The tango smacks of elegance and sophistication, but that was not always the case. The tango was born in the lesser quarters of Buenos Aires in the late nineteenth century, first danced by prostitutes and pimps, and took years to win the "battle for social acceptability." This unbridled dance is chronicled in a book that is equally unrestrained, abounding in exciting illustrations and grounded in a lively text by four authorities. In the 1880s, as we learn here, an economic boom sent Argentina zooming to the top ranks of wealthy nations, and its capital was transformed into a beautiful metropolis, but the city also played host to thousands of European immigrants whose lives were not lived in beauty. In this less-than-respectable ambience sprouted a new and very sexy dance; the "connection between the tango and the brothel is inescapable." It took the tango's transfer across the Atlantic to Paris in the years immediately prior to World War I to render it not only respectable but chic. Back to Buenos Aires it came, and in the 1930s, not only the dance but the musical form associated with it enjoyed a golden age; the authors profile the famous singers and dancers who emerged during that flamboyant era. The tango lives on, for according to the authors, "There will never be a last tango." Brad Hooper
Review
The evolution of tango as a dance and music is covered, from its birth in the slums of Buenos Aires to its growing familiarity in world dance and music circles. Plenty of black and white and color photos liberally display the dance's movements, spicing chapters which cover key figures in the dance's development and promotion. -- Midwest Book Review
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Customer Reviews
|
There are no customer reviews yet.
|
|||
|
Video reviews
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
