Argentina Vacations: Time to Tango

With the recent award of UNESCO world heritage status adorned upon the fabulous tango, dance aficionados across the world have been given yet another reason to travel to Argentina and Uruguay.

The award from the UN body’s Intergovernmental Committee of Intangible Heritage is brilliant news for those who want to tango during a Latin America vacation; both countries are now eligible to apply for funding from UNESCO to help to preserve the dance as a cultural tradition.

The partnership bid for the UNESCO award was not forged easily however; between the dance halls of Montevideo and Buenos Aires, there has long been disagreement over where tango originally hailed. Argentineans insisted that it was a product of its vibrant inner-city working class culture, while Uruguayans claimed that the sultry dance moves were first formed by migrants to Montevideo.

With the allure of UNESCO recognition impending, however, the dispute was quelled: the two countries began to see the benefit of teaming up and vouching for their beloved tango together. They finally put aside their differences for the bid, ultimately realizing that it does indeed take two to tango.

The success of the bid has now given the governments of both countries the fantastic opportunity to subsidize and promote their cultural treasure, ensuring future visitors to Argentina and Uruguay will have the chance to sample one of the most recognizable exports from South America.

Institutions such as milongas - or tango dance halls - will now receive financial assistance to aid their renovation and preservation. Every night in these venues the original version of tango is still enjoyed by young and old; they revel in the waltz-like version of the dance with family and friends, with the pulsating music and dance evoking strong connotations of their history and culture.

The more popular form of tango, known as show tango, is famed for its high sensuality, its vibrant and intimate animation and its charming and illustrious costumes; this type too will benefit from UNESCO funding. Bars, restaurants and hotels in Argentina and Uruguay specialize in showcasing tango to their visitors, offering lessons, demonstrations and full flung stage shows of the sultry and passionate dance.

Where To Tango On An Argentina Vacation

In Buenos Aires, many milongas offer great opportunities for those looking to get involved with tango lessons. San Telmo’s Centro Cultural Torcuato Tasso (Tel: +51 11 4307 6506, Defensa 1575) is perhaps the most renowned; despite its dreary façade there is an electric atmosphere on the inside which bursts into life with colorful outfits and vivacious dance moves. Myriad performers take to the stage; music can be anything from classical orchestras to songs from rock musician Daniel Melingo.

Buenos Aires also has an array of amazing show tango venues. The delightful Café Tortoni (Tel: +54 11 4342 4328, Avenida de Mayo 829, Centro) is a good place to start; this historical building is usually packed at the weekends with tango shows from various dancers and bands. Between the streets of Bulnes and Peron in Almagro is Bar de Roberto, which is another favorite for Tango veterans and has an occasional off the cuff guitar performance on nights during the weekends. Bar El Chino (Tel: +54 11 4911 0215, Beazley 3566, Nueva Pompeya) is famous for its fabulously dressed divas who give an amazing show of tango over dinner. And true to its name, Club del Vino (Tel: +51 11 4833 0048, Cabrera 4737, Palermo Viejo), offers a splash of sumptuous Argentinean wine to accompany the tango and music shows; the renowned Horacio Salgan makes an appearance here on Fridays.

Perhaps the most atmospheric place to head to see some tango performances in Buenos Aires is the pedestrianized Caminito street in the La Boca region, which is striking for the colorful buildings painted by local Benito Quinquela Martín. There are regularly impromptu displays of tango dancers twirling along the cobbled streets, giving the perfect opportunity for visitors to see the dance in a pure and uncontrived form. Street dancers are usually most happy to pose for a photo, while other souvenirs related to tango can also be purchased.

Thanks to the UNESCO award, opportunities such as these will abound for several years to come; there has never been a better time to travel to Argentina and Uruguay to partake in some tantalizing tango.

About the author

This article on Tango and where to dance in Buenos Aires was written by an Argentina travel expert from Argentina For Less, provider of tailor made, high quality and excellent value Argentina vacations.