[Tango-L] The existence of dance schools in Buenos Aires during the 1940s

[Janis Kenyon]

<<Tango classes - and teachers - are merely a recent invention. As Christine
 Denniston wrote on the subject of learning in the Golden Age v. today:
 there was no such thing as a Tango teacher and no such thing as a
 beginners' Tango class before the Tango revival began in the mid 1980s.>>


There was a magazine called El Alma Que Canta, founded in 1916 and published
in Buenos Aires during the 1940s.  I have a copy of issue No. 1310 dated
April 6, 1948.  The magazine (sold for 20 cents) contains lyrics of tangos
and photos of tango singers.  There is also advertising to learn how to
dance.  Domingo Gaeta advertised that one can learn to dance by "mail" or
personally: tango de salon, tango fantasia, paso doble, corrido, milonga,
fox trot, swing, vals, ranchera, rumba, bolero, conga, boogie boogie, samba,
american tap and obtain a diploma.  The ad reads: in a few days you can
learn to dance in your own home during free time, without help from anyone
or music, without a partner and without spending much, created by professor
Gaeta, the most prestigious Argentine professor.   Ladies and gentlemen from
8 to 65, for only one peso you can receive by return mail at home and in any
country, complete brochures with lessons for these dances, well illustrated
with step drawings, couples and figures. Also advice and teachings about how
to act in society, dances, etc.  Studio Gaeta is the best and most luxurious
in south America and is situated in downtown in its own building of four
floors where I teach.   Cangallo 1610 (near Corrientes and Nuevo de Julio),
Buenos Aires.

We may not consider Studio Gaeta a tango school as we know them today,
however, where there is a demand, there is someone ready to supply it.
There had to be someone teaching tango in Buenos Aires before the late
1980s.