Racer

What are the ethnic foods that you eat on a normal basis?

Vietnamese and Mexican!

31 years old
From Denver, United States
Currently in Denver, United States

Our Curious World

The world is a fascinating place! Working in 23 different countries, Experiential Learning International and our volunteers have seen some crazy stuff.

July 14, 2009

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Dance Dance Revolution

In the second half of the 20th century and into the 21st century, the tango has taken its place firmly in the pantheon of high-class ballroom dancing. Competitions range throughout the world, and the best and most skillful dancers can work for years to master the complex emotionally charged moves. Hidden from the high end, classy side of the tango is the deep roots the dance has in the lower class barrios of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The 1800's marked a very unique era in Argentine history. Buenos Aires, as an ideal east-coast harbor, became a hub for international trade and developed a profoundly diverse culture. Literally hundreds of thousands of French, African, Spanish, and Italian immigrants came to the city. The tango developed combining elements from each of these cultures. The dance is practiced at a close embrace, in large part due to the overly crowded conditions of the music venues which saw the creation of the tango. When the Perons came to power, it was in part on a platform of uniting the common people and emphasizing their contribution to the success of Argentina. This was the period during which the tango really emerged from the barrios and into the upper echelons of Argentine society (and Urugayan society by proxy). This, coupled with the increased connections between Argentina and Europe led to a worldwide spread of the tango, becoming extremely popular in the salons of Paris. Although the dance eventually evolved into as many as 20 different varieties with a strong international flavor, it will always retain its roots in the slums of Buenos Aires.

Research now shows that the Argentine tango in particular has very tangible benefits in the treatment of neurological disorders, specifically as it relates to Parkinson's Disease. It seems that several of the movements including dynamic balance, turning, initiation of motion, and walking backwards are especially relevant to patients with the disease and practicing tango seems to really aid in treating certain symptoms. In sum, partying it up in Buenos Aires is a healthy, cultural, and really fun way to spend an evening.

Experiential Learning International
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