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| No | 48% | 70 votes | Total: 146 votes | |
| Yes | 52% | 76 votes |
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Add to FavoritesIt isn't a question of a woman being allowed to lead, but rather, it is the man who allows the woman to shine on the dance floor, with the intense beauty and dramatic expression that this dance is meant to convey. The man really takes the role of the aggressor, and if the dance is done right, the woman is the object of his affection.
The origin of this dance is vague and difficult to find accuracy in times and places of its beginnings. Some say it originated in Europe; others say it derived from African rhythms. The most claims boasted Buenos Aires as the home of the Tango.
Tango was not particularly socially accepted in upper classes. Somewhere in the late 19th century, it was from desperation and economic hard times that this dance evolved. In the darkness of alleys, immigrants and laborers gravitated to shady bars and houses of ill repute to forget their troubles as a way to ease longing, loneliness and find companionship. Some suggest this dance began as a form of suggestive communication between the prostitute and her man. But as years passed, the vulgarity lessened and the dance became more refined as it made its way to France, where it was accepted among the high society.
The Tango is one of the oldest dance forms that remains a staple throughout South America and Europe, and has evolved into the most romantic dance in Ballroom Dance history. Its popularity continues to spread all over the world. American Tango is on the rise and commonly taught all over the U.S.
To watch the Tango performed by professional dancers, is like observing an artist's flawless masterpiece. It is a dramatic and intense story acted out in dance. You could say it is a glorious reenactment of the old story of cat and mouse, but done with panache and style.
As they take their positions, facing each other, arms embraced, bodies close, eyes locked intensely, the man steps forward as he gently stalks his partner, but it is lust that motivates his every move. Not letting on that she finds him attractive, she glides backward, silently, following his eyes, whirling and slithering around the dance floor. His eyes smolder as he turns her sharply. She is coyly resisting his aggression as her staccato footwork rotates her around him. He is lured into her earthy movements. He stalks; she flirts; he pleads for her affection; she twirls out of his grasp. He dominates, she sneaks away weaving in and out of his arms. Their heads snap toward each other as they embrace in a promenade around the floor. There is a sense of urgency in every move. He captures. She surrenders.
Excuse me while I go sign up for lessons right now!
Learn more about this author, Carole Hill.
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Yes
by Tigre Haller
How can we be sure that women have not been leading the Tango all along? Far from being "allowed, " it is almost an inherent aspect of the Tango that women lead and follow. Indeed, it is she who flourishes while the male provides ballast and sometimes acts as a backdrop for her performance. Tango has always been, and will (hopefully) always be, a dance of great mystery, one that invites the viewer to be an unashamed voyeur, and asks the "performers" to lay their souls bare. We watch in anticipation as the suspense begins, perhaps transposing our own desire on to one of the dancers. We hope to detect the subtle signs of seduction never certain of who is seducing whom. One may perceive that the woman is being lead by the man to do his bidding. He puts a hand on her bare back, pulsates and moves forward. She responds by moving backwards, into an abyss, with trust as her only guide. He slides his leg in between hers. She coils around his body. He, with arrogant confidence, pulls her closer still. They freeze for an instance. And then she takes control with a fan-kick that reaches dangerously close to all he holds dear. Ah - the ecstasy! These tantalizing opening moves can only lead to an incendiary climax.
Let us not forget that the Tango originated in the slums of Buenos Aires amongst men from many different nations. It was more of a cesspool than a melting pot, yet these disparate groups found a way to communicate and create something strangely beautiful. Some accounts say that it began with the men dance-fighting, clenching knives between their teeth, then it grew into partner dancing but more for pay than play (a leading of a different kind). Eventually Tango found its way off the docks and out of the sleazy bars and bordellos, and into the salons of the wealthy.
Unlike some North American partner dances, Tango is a symbiotic exchange of visceral and sensual energy. While it could be argued that creations such as Swing, the Jitterbug, the Foxtrot and Western Dance styles all encompass a push-pull dynamic, where each partner relies upon the other's strength, acumen and skill, the gender roles are almost intractable. Perhaps this is due to the culture from which these dances were born. For as much as we make of Latin machismo, and the stereotypical Latina waiting on her man's every whim, this image is ground to dust when they dance. If you watch any of the ever-popular dance competitions, it is usually the Latin Dance segment that gets the audience and performers steamed up. Tango transforms the Lady of the Waltz into a force of nature, freeing her from the constraints of formality and gentility hidden beneath a flowing gown. As beautiful and fanciful as the Waltz can be, it would never allow for her liberation, no matter how numerous or how fast the turns. The well-trod expression "It takes two to Tango" does not dictate "It takes Man to lead and Woman to Follow." Some of the most sensual Tangos involve not two, but three participants. It is truly wondrous watching one woman lead two men who are vying for her favor with such fervor, that in the end they must concede to a mnage-a-trois if they are to have her at all.
One of the most sensual Tango sequences I believe to ever have been witnessed is the "Mother/Daughter Tango" performed by Catherine Deneuve and Linh Dan Pham in the film Indochine. All of the themes of the film examining the subtle, volatile, sensual and vital relationships of France and Vietnam, Colonizer and Colonial, Mother and Daughter, Jealousy and Love are highlighted in the breathtaking spectacle of this one sequence. When Deneuve is leading, it is best to succumb.
In another film, Assassination Tango, Robert Duvall has given us the cinematic equivalent of a milonga, showcasing some of the best Tango dancers in Argentina. Not the least of which is the stunning Luciana Pedraza, who as Manuela, leads Duvall's character to a new understanding of being by teaching him Tango.
The Tango will forever be mercurial and resilient - as will all of the woman leading the way.
Learn more about this author, Tigre Haller.
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