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IN THE EARLY 1900s, a rumour
spread through the poorest towns and villages of europe. A rumour that
honest work and hard labour could earn great riches in South America.
On the strength of that rumour a
huge exodus took place. In a few years over a million men arrived in
Buenos Aires all determined to make their fortunes.
A boatload of hopeful emigres
But only a few were successful.
The rest found themselves in a strange new land, where men outnumbered
women 5 to 1, destitute and unable to make their way back home again.
In the midst of such
hopelessness, something unaccountably beautiful happened.
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Immigrants arriving in Buenos Aires
With no more than the clothes on
their back and songs and memories from back home, they began to share
their heartfelt feelings.
Out of this melting pot of
different cultures, languages, poverty and despair, people learnt to
communicate their fears, their love, their losses and their hopes
through music and dance.
Men learnt to dance 'mano a mano'
The rhythms and melodies of home
were mixed in a diasporic melting pot of african, european, and south
american ingredients.
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Deeply
rooted melodies that had survived generations, passed from parent to
child, shared around camp fires and celebrations of birth, marriage and
death crossed an ocean and helped give birth to a new genre - and so
tango was born.
From fortune to folly. Life in BsAs.
At
Tango UK, we respect these humble beginnings and share our music and
dance from the heart with anyone who wants to lose themselves in tango.
You are warmly invited to share this gift of something unaccountably
beautiful with us - but beware, tango can change your life!
Steve Morrall
playing bandoneon with maestros from the great orquestas Pedro Mayo (l)
and Eduardo Valle (r) in Belgrano, Buenos Aires, January 2005.
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