Overview

A Pickpockets History of Argentine Tango explores the rise of Tango in Argentina: its social and political climate, its characters, music, dance, song and poetry. Many fine books have been written on how to dance Tango. This is not one of those. This is a history book whose protagonist is Tango. The Author brings a unique perspective to his reader with a Ph.D. in International Relations and extensive knowledge of world politics and Argentine culture. His incisive acumen as a psychotherapist provides a window into the soul of the Tango world. The psychology of the Tango is found in the poetry of its lyrics: a direct link with the hopes, fears, frustrations, and illusions of their time. a The dance when deeply engaged, revealed the human condition: the solitude of all human beings, the ephemeral nature of modern relations and the need for relationship. We are all exiles, refugees from life, uprooted by immigration....Tango was an escape in order to bear the lot of life. The music was a reflection of existence. People were thrilled to hear the sounds of Tango music, and recognize their favorite composers, delighting in the orchestras who gave meaning to their emotions. People were moved to move.a All the cultures of the world have their own music and dance. Things that could not be said in words were expressed in music and song. Tango is the same, but with one important difference: the people who created the Tango were from the four corners of the world and had nothing in common except this dance, this poetry, this music. This book explores Tango as a social phenomenon, born in Buenos Aires and spread worldwide. a They were Italians and Spaniards, Britons and Jews, poor peasants from Germany, Russia and Poland. Yet in the midst of this life of despair and danger, these men did not fight to the death; they fought for respect. Competition was fierce, but the men devised a method of selection. Dance. Tango, they called it.

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9781453801970

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VICTOR LEVANT is a Professor of Humanities with a Ph.D. in International Relations and a political commentator for the CBC and Radio-Canada (1973-2007). He was a Media Consultant for the National Film Board of Canada, 1984-1986 and Director of Research and Script Consultant for the television documentary The World Challenge with Peter Ustinov and Patrick Watson (1982-1984). He is the author of the books: Quiet Complicity: Canada and the Vietnam War, How to Make a Killing: Canadian Involvement in the Indo-China War (co-author) and How to Buy a Country. He took a break and worked as a restaurant critic for 6 years. His murder mystery in 5 languages Tangomascarada.com has been acclaimed. Victor has been dancing Argentine Tango for 12 years; Salsa, Meringue and Bachata for 15. For the last 18 years he's been working as a Psychotherapist.

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