The most sensuous dance form
The Argentine Tango is alleged to have been introduced by the gauchos or cowboys who came to town in search of female companionship. According to urban legend, weeks on horseback made their leather chaps stiff which forced them to walk with bent knees, giving rise to the male stance. The women on the other hand kept a distance to avoid the odor of a man. Whether this is true or not, there’s nothing that can take away the passion and sensuality of this dance form. Rather than the gauchos, it was Rudolph Valentino’s role in the 1926 movie, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, which had a powerful impact on male Tango stars that were quick to hop into gaucho garb.
The battle of love on the dance floor
Urban legend aside, the Argentine Tango probably emerged from the seedy districts where the Underworld ruled and brothels were in plenty. Seduction and foreplay is what the tango portrays, which many considered forbidden and obscene. However, there’s no doubt that despite its more than colorful roots, it strikes the right note and stirs up passion in all men and women. There’s plenty of depth in what the Argentine Tango stands for, which in essence is the never-ending battle for love, dominance and submission amongst human beings.
