[TANGO-L] Ballroom tango - head snaps, etc

[John Ward <johnofbristol @TISCALI.CO.UK>]

I quote from "The History of English Ballroom Dancing" by PJS Richardson:

About this time [1934] a considerable change came into the "style" (not the steps) of the tango, due to the introduction of an exaggerated staccato movement which certainly did not improve the dance. As originally introduced by the Argentines about 1933, this crisp and snappy movement was not unattractive but was confined to the legs and feet - the body still preserving its smooth carriage. In Germany this style became very popular and was soon exaggerated and in its exaggerated form crept into England. Mr Camp, an amateur, was one of the first to exploit it. Undoubtedly, too, the very theatrical steps of the Paso Doble, in which the movements of a bullfighter are suggested, had a very big effect on the tango. Competitors found that these exaggerated movements, particularly a sudden turn of the head when changing direction, earned the plaudits of the spectators if not the marks of the judges.

And in the following chapter:

The tango controversy reached a somewhat acute pitch when Mr and Mrs Fichter, doing a smooth quiet tango, were awarded the Dorothy Cole Challenge Bowl at the Hammersmith Palais [in 1936], just beating the popular favourites, Mr Camp and Miss Pasqual, doing a very staccato tango, by the odd vote.

I have an EP "Strict Tempo Dancing - Tango" by Horst Wende which I bought about 1965. "Recommended as a dance disc by the German Dancing Teachers Association". It is very fast, very staccato - particularly the last tune on the disc. "Championship Tango". When dancing to it one has to do the head snaps. It would do an injustice to the music to leave them out.

John Ward
Bristol, UK

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