Island Tango

Has a good ring to it, doesn't it? Just heard it mentioned last week. No, I don't think anyone knows what that is. I am not sure either. However, now that I have seen the Filipino Tango more often in West Oahu and seen it danced on the same floor with American Tango, it makes some sense.

"Tango has four legs and one heart."

I can see the opportunities for the cross breeding. With a dash of Argentine Tango, it could be developed into "Da Reel Teeng," an Island Tango. But the only place it could develop would be West Oahu. In town the "tradition" (whatever that is) is too hard to break. The rootzi tootzis would never stand for it.

Modern Argentine Tango did not become fully formed until the beginning of the 20th century after centuries of being danced as the Milonga by the Indians of South America. Once fully formed and introduced into Europe, the different offshoots developed. Not only in Europe but in Argentina too.

The Continental Tango was and remains one of the biggest styles socially throughout Europe. Then the English style was one of the principal ones. The Finnish Tango is still popular and being danced not only in Finland but has spread into Russia, the rest of Scandinavia and the Baltics and now known as the Nordic Tango. Even Argentine's say it is one of the most beautiful Tangos in existence.

"Tango can be danced in a thousand different ways, but lets step on the ground first,
 because that is where the energy comes from. Therefore this is where we ought to
dance to the music. And without the music there is no dance, no tango, no teacher,
no student. A true teacher can only transmit the teaching the music has left him."
"Tete" (Pedro Rusconi)

"El Dia Que Me Quieras" by Carlos Gardel

The American Tango, of course, in the U.S. and Mexico and "invading" other Latin American countries. The Chinese Tango, in Asia developed with the upper classes of the old Chinese empire. It was transferred and modified in Korea by the Koreans and then Japan got it in their occupation of Korea. So there is also a Korean and a Japanese Tango.

Then of course, the American influence for so many years in the Philippines was instrumental in the introduction of the American Tango there. With its subsequent modification by the Filipinos and a touch of the Argentine here and there, and you have the present day Filipino Tango. Somehow it has resulted in a very Milonga like style. Step, step, step, step.

Now, on this island, there are many that are turned off by the ten or so variations of the Argentine Tango and their tendency for a "Rootzi Tootzi" attitude about their "art" doesn't help at all.  Island recreation dancers like the American Tango and they like the Filipino Tango. Seems pretty natural to me, but then what do I know? We certainly are not going to tell anyone what to dance. It will be an interesting observation.

"Did anyone ever tell the original Milonga dancers that

it takes two to tango?"