Posts tagged ‘international dance’
International Dance, Part 3 of 3—Cancan
Discover the Cancan in the third part of this world dance series, which in its heyday elicited rather too much scandal in the Parisian district of Montmartre. They didn’t call this dance the Cancan (which translates as “scandal”) for nothing. Young ladies, (usually students) would shriek, provocatively throw their legs up high from beneath their long skirt and petticoat, and energetically move around the dance hall. However, at one time the Cancan wasn’t just a dance for women. It evolved from a popular partnered dance called the “Gallop” in the early 1800s (incidentally, a simplified version of “The Gallop” by Jacques Offenbach is most often associated with the Cancan). And at one—albeit brief—time, men would perform the Cancan in dance halls alongside women. (Some say that these gents caused even more of a ruckus than the ladies.) Although the Cancan style swiftly became popular outside of France, the acrobatic and choreographed chorus line of the Cancan that we picture today was actually imported into France from the music halls of the UK and USA at the beginning of the 20th century! Today, dancing the Cancan is relegated to the days of yore. But with a visit to the infamous Moulin Rouge, a destination made famous as much by the Cancan as by post-impressionist artist, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, you’ll still be able to feel the fervor of a typical French Cancan performance.
International Dance, Part 2—Tango
In the second part of this world dance series, let’s discover the romance of Tango. Though rumor has it that its humble beginnings in the lower class barrios of 19th century Buenos Aires were anything but romantic. In fact, some say that Tango got its rigid posture when ladies would dance in the crook of a cowboy’s arm to protect her nose from his pungent farmyard smell. (Today, however, showering before you Tango is recommended.) Tango evolved at a time when Argentina was experiencing a massive influx of immigrants from Europe and Africa. As cultures mingled, so did dance styles. Yet it wasn’t until people began dancing the Tango outside the slums that it picked up in popularity and became a firm favorite among the elite—not just in Buenos Aires but as far afield as Paris, London and Berlin. By 1913, Tango was danced throughout the clubs of New York and by the 1950s Tango was a staple in Finland. So much so that the Finns hold a Tango festival every year drawing hundreds of thousands of dancers. And there is even a style of Tango called the Finnish Tango. You’ll find many ways to embrace Tango culture on a trip to Buenos Aires. From free street performances in La Boca to dinner dances in San Telmo. Or go for a more authentic feel and check out a Milonga (a salon where people go to dance Tango) where you can sit back, relax and see how the locals do it. Even better, why not try it yourself on Explorica tours to Buenos Aires.