DanceScape
Joined: 15 Oct 2004
Posts: 1
Location: Ballroom
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| Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 3:10 pm Post subject: DanceScape eZine - Tango News & Articles |
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The Origin of Tango...CHINA?
Source: DanceScape eZine
www.dancescape.com/ezine/pastissues
Many have always believed that the Tango originated in the brothels of Argentina. Is this really the true tale behind this passionate and fiery dance? A new finding has triggered debates among Tango lovers after Dr. Ramon Sison from California presented his argument highlighting where he believed the dance truly began. Find out more about "Go Tan" from China, who may have been the Grandfather of Tango. Is it fact or fiction? You decide...
The tale begins in the early thirteenth century in China when a great Mongolian warrior, Genghis Khan, spotted an unusual dance style while being entertained in his tent by local dancers and musicians. One of Khan’s officers had become so drunk that he joined all of the female dancers and began dancing with his own drunken and improvised choreography. The handsome young officer not only impressed the ladies, but the great warrior Khan was so entertained that he encouraged the officer to give up his military career and dedicate his life to dancing.
The mysterious man behind these impressive moves was named Go Tan. When Go was not busy waging war, he began regularly performing his dance to the rhythmic beating of gongs, while Khan enthusiastically chanted, “Go for it, Go!” People loved watching Go Tan dance, and began calling his dancing style the “Gong Show”, or the “Whiskey-A-Go-Go”.
As his improvised dance continued to gain popularity, it seemed more appropriate to name the dance after the hotshot himself. So, using the Chinese custom to mention the family name first, Go Tan was addressed as Tan-Go, and sure enough people began calling his famous drunken choreography “Tango”.
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To continue reading about Go-Tan and the Tango, please visit www.dancescape.com/eZine. Is it fact or fiction? You decide...
We welcome Tango-related news and article contributions. Please contact Laura Davies at editor@dancescape.com .
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