Gloria Arquimbau - Tango Pioneer

Gloria and Eduardo Arquimbau

The Eternal Embrace

Tango as we know it today didn’t just happen. Most certainly, it is an organic urban music culture that originated from the cities of Buenos Aires in Argentina and Montevideo in Uruguay in the 1870s -1890s, bought together with a confluence of African and European music. And it does have an unstoppable life force of its own. But like any art form, without the underlying, support, dedication and passion of many key people, the pioneers, tango would not have evolved into the art-form we know today.

Gloria Arquimbau was one of those key people. Together with her husband Eduardo, Gloria took the tango from Buenos Aires and introduced it to the world stage. She and Eduardo were also instrumental in regenerating tango in Argentina and bringing it into the homes of everyday Argentineans through Buenos Aires television stations from 1962 onwards.. Their enormous talent carried them throughout the world not only as exceptional performers, but also choreographers in tango shows, “Tango Argentino” and “Forever Tango” during 1980 and 1990s. They performed with many of the famous and respected tango orchestras such as Canaro, Pulgliese, DiSarli, Troilo,and Piazzola. For more than 60 years, Gloria and Eduardo taught the world how to dance and love tango and it was through tango they ascended the world.

When Gloria first met Eduardo she was but moments old and he was 10. ……..It was a relationship that would last for 73 years.”

From Buenos Aires to Japan

When Gloria first met Eduardo she was but moments old and he was 10. When Gloria was being born, Eduardo was playing in the street below with Gloria’s brother. When her birth was announced the boys raced upstairs where Eduardo was introduced to tiny baby Gloria. It was a relationship that would last for 73 years. Gloria started dating Eduardo when she was 15, two years after they started performing together,and they married when she was 20. Gloria’s tango journey started early, her father was a tango dancer and she grew up in a household where tango music was played constantly, echoing out onto the streets. It was because her father was a tango dancer and knew the magic of tango, that he agreed to 13 year old Gloria partnering Eduardo in a performance at the Cine Teatro Opera. When they caught the eye of Francisco Canaro (musician, composer and orchestra leader) Gloria and Eduardo were invited to join his orchestra on tour in Japan in 1961. Gloria wouldn’t go anywhere without her mother so in order to facilitate the tour much to their amusement Canaro put her mother down as a dancer. This was the start of their lifelong career in tango.

When asked about the tango, Gloria would say “Its all about the embrace - the embrace”

Gloria not only danced, she also sang and in Japan dressed in the national Japanese costume complete with wooden geta, Gloria sang in Japanese, before an audience of 2,000. Imagine how it would have felt for a young girl of 14 straight from Buenos Aires. One could only marvel at her composure, but Gloria took her task seriously, with grace and elegance. She had a quiet determination, she was unassuming and carried herself with dignity and professionalism. She was discipled and one only had to see her perform to appreciate her dedication to the tango. Gloria’s dance style was fast and sharp-edged, extremely accurate, her body still and her feet like lightning. It was tango from the 1960s and 1970s, and she created a magical performance. With Eduardo by her side Gloria echoed his confidence. When asked about the tango Gloria would say “ It’s all about the embrace  - the embrace”

Gloria Arquimbau singing in Japan

Taking Tango to the World

Gloria and Eduardo worked hard to cultivate their tango and bring the best of themselves to their audiences. They worked not only in Japan but also in the United States and travelled with their own shows to the Soviet Union, Mexico and throughout Latin America during the late 1960s. When they toured Russia they were initially contracted for 15 days, but when the Russians saw them perform they were booked for 7 months. But they both felt that it was the show “Tango Argentino” they worked in, that revolutionised tango, bringing it to the world at large and to where tango it is today. The show was innovative and when it went to Broadway there were six or seven couples performing. These were exciting times for Gloria and Eduardo. With tango becoming popular throughout Europe and Asia, many Asians and Europeans started travelling to Argentina seeking tango lessons. This in turn created a renewed interest in tango in Argentina with a new Argentinean generation. This was partly due to the job opportunities that opened up for tango instructors and performers. When they realised the demand for tango Gloria and Eduardo created a series of teaching videos, translated into 10 languages. Gloria’s teaching methods were built around the woman recognising and responding to what the lead was proposing, to listen to the music and “step on the musical time”. Her passion for tango never diminished over the years and she and Eduardo continued to teach and perform in Buenos Aires and internationally right up to current times.

I never had the good fortune to meet Gloria or Eduardo, our paths never crossed. I think if I had met her, I could have learnt a great deal about tango and it’s cultural roots. I look at the beautiful photo of Gloria singing in Japan, her bright wide eyed face shining with energy and eagerness and I can only admire her courage and the firm hold she took on the tango, promoting it throughout the world and I applaud her success.

On 16th April 2020, Gloria past away in a hospital in Buenos Aires from lung and heart complications. She is survived by Eduardo and her children. Gloria is representative of a foundation stone of tango, irreplaceable in artistry and culture. I would like to be able to tell you that Eduardo was with Gloria as she took her last breath, just as he was there when she took her first. Unfortunately given the difficult times we are currently living in information is sketchy. Best practise I think, is to believe it so.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Eduardo and her family.

Gloria and Eduardo Arquimbau

A Tango Story

I would like to share with you a move that Sidewalk Tango learnt, from watching Gloria and Eduardo perform and aptly labelled, “The Gloria and Eduardo”.

You will be able to see the move in the video below, showing this amazing couple dancing to “Milongueando en el ‘40”, a song from “Forever Tango”, arrangement by renowned bandoneon player, Jose Libertella. The move is towards the end of the clip starting at the 1:49 mark.

I have also included a clip of the Sidewalk Tango version of the Gloria and Eduardo move, see it at around 6 seconds. I hope you enjoy.