Culture> Music and Theater

The tickle of Tango

By Xu Jingxi ( China Daily ) Updated: 2014-01-10 08:09:56

Argentinian Mora Godoy mixes classical ballet and modern dance in her tango performances. The "queen of tango" says she plans to host workshops in her future China tours. Photo Provided to China Daily

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Tango originated in the 1890s along the border between Argentina and Uruguay and was popular among lower-income immigrants. When the sunset arrived, the sailors, workers and vagrants in Buenos Aires would gather in taverns to drink and dance through the night. People brought different dance steps and music from their own countries to the party and created tango, a dance that has influences from European and African culture.

It soon spread to the rest of the world, especially to Europe, as a ballroom dance and a stage art.

The five pairs of dancers in Godoy's show tell romantic stories of different flavors with tango. An amusing quarrel between a couple ends with a kiss; in another routine about a bitter break-up, the male dancer keeps pulling his female partner's back while she repeatedly swirls away from his chest.

A live band, featuring a pianist, a violinist, a double-bass player and a performer on concertina-a traditional instrument in tango music-offers lively sound effects to pull the audience into the stories.

The programming aims at displaying both the light-hearted and the sentimental sides of tango. The first half is full of exciting tricks, such as the difficult ballet moves and the sweet quarrel, while the second half is a lyric drama, which requires viewers to relax and feel the emotions.

However, as tango is new to many people in China, it seems that the Chinese audiences don't appreciate the beauty in the slow, sentimental part of tango. Some ticket holders at Godoy's show in Guangzhou Opera House on Jan 5 left during the second half, well before the show ended.

But Godoy exudes confidence about tango's market potential in China. Her company has visited China often since its debut tour here in 2003, which included eight shows at the Shanghai International Arts Festival.

"I've noticed that there are more and more professional tango dancers in China. I believe that we've cultivated a group of Chinese audiences who love watching tango after so many international tango companies came to perform in China in recent years," Godoy says.

"I added many difficult movements in the choreography because we need these new tricks to attract Chinese audiences. I think they will receive the innovations well."