[Tango-L] The spread of tango

[johnofbristol@tiscali.co.uk]

According to P.J.S. Richardson (History of English Ballroom Dancing, 
1945), M. Camille de Rhynal and Miss Gabrielle Ray demonstrated the 
tango to the London impresario Mr George Edwardes in 1907, in the hope 
that he would use it in his theatre; but "whilst all agreed that there 
were immense possibilities in the idea it was realized that in its form 
at the moment it could not be presented to a London audience". After 
some refinement in Paris, the tango appeared on the London stage in 
1912, danced by Mr George Grossmith and Miss Phyllis Dare. That year 
"tango teas" became fashionable with the upper-class public. There are 
5 pages of highly detailed stuff in Richardson's history, and I can 
send a scan if anyone is interested.



As to the tango in Finland, M.A. Numminen says in "Tango is my 
Passion": 



"Tango came to Finland in 1913, when a certain Danish couple performed 
it in the Börsi restaurant in Helsinki. Tango had a sinful reputation. 
Dancing it was lewd. Just why the couple’s tango displays were so 
popular that they performed in the Börsi for several years, I can’t 
imagine."



The name of the Danish couple is not given.



John Ward

Bristol, UK