Finland and The Tango: An Old Enduring Flame

According to news sources, a tango resurgence is in the air and has spread from New York’s Waldorf Astoria and its reinstated tango tea dances across to Great Britain where classes are in high demand. Perhaps it is because the Finns are known to be notoriously reserved and shy that the highly sensual and flamboyant tango took hold of the national psyche back in 1913 and has never let go. The tango originated in the brothels of Argentina at the dawn of the last century. It sensually crept across Europe, evolving and adapting to cooler climes and predilections. Although it was instantly popular, it did slide in and out of fashion in most places. Not the case in Finland, however, where the dance became a national obsession and struck a lasting chord. It morphed into another dance form, one that was not as easy as it looked. The Finnish version of the tango has become entangled with their national identity. Its nuances require serious adjustment and nestling up to a partner one may or may not want to know better. If you are in love or lust however, that is another story. One very noticeable difference from the Argentine version of the tango lies in its hold. There is no inward lean and the stance is more upright with body contact equally pressured from chest down to thigh. The steps conform to a basic rhythm of slow, slow, quick ,quick with no crossed steps, which render the dance much subtler albeit just as intimate. It would seem that the Finns have formed a bond with the melancholic aspect of tango music. There is no question that their tango has its own distinct style with most songs played in a minor key. And so, if images of Jack Lemmon dancing with Joe E Brown separated only by a rose between their mouths comes to your mind, you are probably in a movie theater watching Some Like it Hot. But whoever and wherever you are, the tango is every one’s dream, wet, hot or otherwise. What do YOU think about this?