Tango, the Dance

"I would say that without the sunsets and nights of Buenos Aires one cannot make a tango, and that the platonic idea of the tango, in its universal form, awaits us in heaven."
Jorge Luis Borges, 1930

Ahhh, Tango. Seductive, sultry, stunning. I couldn't wait to see the dance in its birthplace, and I didn't have to wait long. Tango is easily found throughout Buenos Aires, especially in my neighborhood of San Telmo. It's immortalized in graffiti, danced publicly on the streets and in theaters, and a source of national pride. It's beautiful to watch, especially when performed by gorgeous young couples, but sweet when taken up by the senior set as well. The footwork, the embrace, the lifts - mesmerizing. Even the clothing, shoes and hats contribute to its allure, and my words and pictures simply can't do it justice. For a dance that started in brothels "down by the river," influenced by the ceremonies of African slaves and melded with elements from Spanish and Italian folk dance, it's Argentina's signature cultural export.