From its earliest days as a barroom dance among the poor dockworkers of Buenos Aires, the tango has symbolized the raw, smoldering, erotic tension that can pass between the sexes, no matter what era, social class or regime of political correctness. This is the original dirty dance. But because it is an original, it is far more adult, complex, sophisticated and even cerebral than the simple-minded “shake-your-bootay” stuff that gets strutted on Soul Train or at the local disco.
Argentineans have watched the tango wax and wane as an international dance sensation, but have never given up on their most distinctive contribution to world culture. That’s why an event like the Third International Tango Congress, “CITA 2001,” which has been designed not only to keep the flame alive but fan it, will take place in Buenos Aires the week of March 11-18, 2001.
It will be late summer in Argentina’s great capital city, “the Paris of South America,” when tango fans from all over the world gather to enjoy 50 classes taught by 20 of the world’s greatest tango instructors. The classes – which show off the dance’s amazing variety – will range from fundamentals for beginners to courses on the Milonguero (close-embrace or salon style), Cosmotango and Canvengue styles, as well as show and fantasy tangos, improvisation and adornments.
Days of instruction will be punctuated by nights of dancing to live orchestras, demonstration dances by the city’s best tango dancers, and four grand shows by master teachers. Outside the dance venues lies the great port city of Buenos Aires, a metropolitan area that embraces more than 1/3 of the country’s population. Visitors will enjoy mild weather, great shopping, a complete array of other cultural activities, and possibly the best beef in the world.
