[Tango-L] Argentine Tango

[Sergio Vandekier]

Somebody says:

"Tango is not an
Argentine product, but the product of fusion between
afro-Caribbean and
European rhythms.   That in an era of increasing
global awareness any claims
to sole cultural ownership over any practice is silly
and infantile."

Even if that was true, the 'product of fusion" is an Argentine/Uruguayan 
creation.

More specifically the creation of certain people, in the periphery of the 
cities of Buenos aires and Montevideo.

Afro-Caribbean and European rhythms collided in other areas of the world and 
created "other products of fusion" :

Jazz in USA, Samba in Brazil, Rumba, Cha-cha, mambo, bolero in Cuba, Cumbia 
in Colombia, Salsa in Puerto Rico, Merengue in The Dominican Republic.

So most of the ballroom dances originated in a similar way, in America, due 
to the interaction of African and European rhythms.

Argentine tango and Jazz have in common the fact that they originated in 
poor areas of metropolitan cities, the other dances have a rural root 
instead.

In this respect the urban forces at play in the genesis of tango are more 
similar to Rebetica (in Greece) and Fado (in Portugal).

In Summary we should not think that the ingredients (flower, apples, sugar, 
cinnamon) individually are the same as an Apple Pie.

Argentine Tango is a reflection of the "porten`o" character, spirit, soul, 
idiosyncrasy the same as rebetica, fado, Jazz are cultural reflections of 
the people that originated them.

As any artistic creation it belongs to the whole humanity. Argentines are 
very proud, and happy that Tango is embraced and danced all over the world.

This has nothing to do with being a good or a poor dancer. Many Porteños do 
not know how to dance tango.   Many foreigners dance better than most 
porteños . But... world class dancers are either Argentines or foreigners 
trained by Argentines ...so far .

If I am wrong I would humbly like to know who is a world class tango dancer 
who was trained by foreign instructors. I am certain that this is happening 
some place right now but I do not know where. Thank you for your help.


Best regards, Sergio

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