Tango 50 Keys

by Falcoff, Laura

• ISBN13: 9789871820009
• ISBN10: 9871820003
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-08-07
• Publisher: Golden Company

Summary

The essence of tango dancing is addressed in this intriguing book: milongas, the head nod, dance styles, dress code, improvisation styles, different rhythms... But, in addition to dance, this book covers many other aspects of the genre, such as, for example, those relating to music: from the indisputable characters --such as Astor Piazzolla and Carlos Gardel-- to the bandoneon, the typical orchestra and the so-called 2 x 4 rhythm, which erroneously describes tango. Moreover, tango keys, that is, those "keys" that open a huge and varied universe include those places where the genre was or is alive and present, such as bars, neighborhoods, the carnival or the city of Buenos Aires itself. The tango lyrics and the poets who wrote them have their own keys because it must be remembered that a large part of those lyrics is genuine popular poetry that covers all imaginable topics: finding and losing love, suffering, loneliness, disappointment. Also, the neighborhood, horses races (great tango theme!), cafes, friendship, soccer, courage, work, social claim, carnival, the port, the sea, alcohol, landscapes, smoking and believe it or not- overweight issues, as in "Gorda" (in Spanish "fat"), 1928.

Author Biography

Laura Falcoff is a choreographer, teacher and dance critic, trained in different academic and popular dance techniques.  She first relates to tango as an amateur dancer in the early nineties and takes part in the show “Anoche” (created jointly with Camilla Villamil and presented for the first time in 2007), which recovers some features and the atmosphere of the ballroom tango. She has researched and given courses on tango dance history. Her conference, illustrated by a couple of tango dancers, “Myths and truths of tango dance”, was presented at the 2011 Buenos Aires Tango Festival, later in Paris, Canarias islands and in different cities of the world.