Tango is not simply a dance form, it consists of dancing, music and even poetry. It emerged from the Río de la Plata region of Argentina and Uruguay. More specifically, from the bordellos of Buenos Aires and Montevideo. It came from the working-class immigrants from different cultures namely Argentine, Uruguayan, Afro-Argentine/Uruguayan, European and Jewish. At the end of the 19th century, port cities were booming with trade. Amateur musicians formed neighborhood tango ensembles which created the first- generation tangueros, known as la guardia vieja (the old guard). The roaring 1920s brought a new wave of tangueros known as la guardia nueva (the new guard). They established the sexteto típico (standard sextet) of two violins, two bandoneons, piano and bass. They use the contrasting rítmico/cantando (rhythmic/singing)  melodic styles, marcato (marked) and síncopa (syncopated) accompanimental rhythms and yeites (tango licks/percussive effects). 

Its golden age was in the 1930s 

There are two names you need to remember: 

• Carlos Gardel: credited to establish the tango canción (tango song) -  he was 'the tango made flesh'

• Astor Piazzolla: bandoneón master and composer from 1930s period. He developed his nuevo tango, a combination of classical, jazz and tango musical styles 

Heavy use of cortes (staccato pauses or sharp turns) 

Argentine Tango