Tango History
Up to the middle of the 19th century, the most popular dance in Buenos Aires was Fandango. This dance, originating in Andalusia, was brought to Latin America by the Spanish Colonialists.
In the second half of the 19th century, Candombe was danced among coloured population in the south part of Buenos Aires, in the suburban quarter called “del mondongo“, This dance was rhythmically most alike today’s milonga. Candombe was danced in the streets, with carnival atmosphere, but without physical contact. Great masses of people gathered there, carried away by the eruption of passion and emotions. Rivalries between the gangs often led to bloody fights with knives. Due to general anarchy on the streets during the festivals, this way of public gathering was forbidden. In the suburbs, in closed spaces, the African centres for dance were founded, where those quarrelling parties did not mix.
During the time, exchange of dance skills and cultural heritage of the immigrants from Europe and local inhabitants led to creation of tango. Embrace in tango is the direct consequence of the European dances – Viennese waltz and polka.
As all new things, tango spread fast to other suburban quarters. With the rise in number of dancers, many places for dancing emerged, but always with the highlight on skill and art. The place called “Tauro“, which the most prestigious dancer frequented, was also popular among ladies and was situated on the crossroads of today’s streets Umberto Primo and Solis.
With the arrival of immense number of the poorest Europeans, who were used by British as labour force for constructing the railway, the ratio between men and women in Buenos Aires became 7:1. At that time, the easiest way for a man to get closer to a person of opposite sex was through tango or in brothels.
The misconception that tango was first danced only in brothels came from the members of middle and higher classes, who encountered tango only in bordellos. Spellbound by magic of tango, the higher social classes started secretly to learn dancing tango.
At that time, two academies were established where men were mainly 
practicing with each other, so as to be able to impress the ladies in the evening. Great competition led once again to fights with knives. In order for men not to confront one another when approaching the ladies, cabeseo was devised – after exchanging glances, a man would discreetly nod to a lady and if the woman still looked at his direction, they would meet on the dance floor (ronda).
At the beginning of the 19th century, local newspapers used to publish tablatures of tango music. In more well-off households, which had the piano and other musical instruments, people started playing them and thus tango, little by little, entered the middle and higher classes. The other way through which wealthier inhabitants came into contact with tango music was via vergl(organ grinder) that was highly popular at that time.
It is interesting how “tango steps“ have developed through history. In the beginning, people generally danced by pivoting and without any turns. Later on, with the appearance of shorter skirts, new moves were enabled: “boleo“, “gancho“, “saccada“, etc.
The two most renowned styles are “tango salon“, which was popular in the Thirties and Forties of the 20th century and “tango milonguero“, which followed in the Fifties.
Contemporary tango, as all modern art, allows for the fusion of various styles, depending on the music and inspiration in the embrace.