Tango, Obscure Related Facts and Other Unrelated Trivia..... Just for Fun

Ever wondered about the highest suspended performance? Or lain awake all night pondering the speed of a boleo? Well, relief is at hand, plus other unrelated trivia to brighten your day.

Tango Has No Age

Oscar Brusco and Nina Chudoba

When Oscar Brusco 90, and Nina Chudoba 82, competed in the Tango World Championships in Buenos Aires in 2017, they may not have been the longest surviving proponents of the art form, but they were certainly up there. It was a major achievement. Oscar and Nina began dancing tango in Buenos Aires during the golden age of the 1940s, reflected in their style, richly embodied with diverse cultures from a bygone era. At first their tango may appear simple, but their movement is interwoven with the desire to connect, and touch the other. Their dialogue is expressive and complex. As Oscar said they are “the essence of tango”

Further research on Oscar comes up with a blank so I am guessing he has passed and is spending his time chatting about old times with Gardel and Pugliese. I did however, find a link to Nina dancing a milonga on her 93rd birthday at Sueno Porteno Buenos Aires and she doesn’t miss a beat - tango has no age.

“We breathed tango, we fell in love with tango and we laughed with tango” Nina Chudoba

Tango on a High

The highest suspended tango performance? In 2016 Mora Godoy and Jose Lugones performed a tango on a platform suspended from a crane 60.4m above the ground. The spectacular event was organised by a group called Eleve Danza under the direction of Horacio Olano and perfomed next to the Obelisk in Buenos Aires. The performance troupe set out to break a Guinness World Record. Safety measures required Mora and Jose to create a non-slip floor and have specially made shoes. Complete with suspended acrobats the performance was incredible and even though Mora and Jose were harnessed, it’s slightly terrifying to watch.

Check out the footage …

The Boleo

I read somewhere that the average speed of a boleo is between 38-45mph - could cause whip lash, right? So what is this high speed tango movement? Boleo, translated to English “to throw” is a tango move (considered as an embellishment), which, when executed well, can be beautiful, but it takes practise.. The velocity and style of the boleo is initiated by the lead, followers can choose to create their own shape whilst staying within the musicality and intention of the lead. A high boleo is fun to do, but both leader and follower need to remain mindful of the space they have and respect other dancers on the floor.

Then There’s The Tango shoe…

It is said that the average woman owns approximately 21 pairs of shoes with 15% owning over 30. Some women are reported to own anywhere up to 400 and then there was course Imelda Marcos’s collection of 3,000, and she is not alone. By comparison, men own on average, 12 pairs of shoes.

Naturally enough this all changes when you are a tango dancer and for a women 21 pairs can double or even triple and that doesn’t include the practise shoes. Donning a pair of tango shoes is ritruialist, taking the wearer from every day life, towards an evening of tango magic. As a foot is slipped into the tango shoe a feeling of excitement and anticipation creeps through the body as dopamine and serotonin levels rise. A symbolic moment in which one is transformed, as you prepare to embark on an adventure. A tango dancer, both leader and follower will arrive at a milonga in street shoes and change into their tango shoes before taking to the dance floor. This is the way of the tango.

Fun Facts About Argentina

• The Radio

  Argentina was one of the first countries in the world to have radio broadcasting - the first broadcast was made in August 1920 - at that time only 20 people had a receiver. it did catch on however and now Argentineans spend more time listing to the radio as compared to any other nation

• Animated Films

  As well as radio pioneers, Argentina also created the first animated feature films. Quirino Cristani created a film called El Apostol (The Apostle), based on the then president, Hipolito Yrgoyen, The film was released in Buenos Aires in November 1917, despite being well received it was not released to other provinces in Argentina. Unfortunately the film was destroyed in a fire in 1928.

• Eat Gnocchi On The 29th Each Month

  A habit of the Italian immigrants, Argentineans have a tradition of eating gnocchi on the 29th of each month. As gnocchi is made from potato, flour and salt it was an ideal economic option for the last days of the month when money was tight. It is customary to place money under the plate of gnocchi to attach good luck and fortune for the coming month. When in Buenos Aires look out for gnocchi menu specials on the 29th. All makes perfectly sense to me.