Tracing its beginings to the 1880’s in the Argentine underbelly, the houses of ill repute, Tango has had it’s periods of ups and downs. After the initial spread through all levels of the Argentine society, Tango found its way first to Paris, and then to other parts of the world. But after the coup in Argentina in 1955 and until the fall of the military junta Tango was ousted from public life by the repressive regime, and although it was never oficially banned, less and less people danced especially the new young generations who took to Rock and Roll rather than Tango. These were the years of the decline of Tango in Argentina and consecuently around the world. With the fall of the junta in 1983 in Argentina begun a period of Tango renaissance. Young people started to accept Tango again, to learn it and to dance it. Over the last 20 years Tango has become a phenomenon again, an art form maybe even more powerful than ever. It is embraced globally by diverse groups of people across generations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Few years ago Macedonia put itself on the Tango map as well. It all started in 2005 by a small group of enthusiasts and tango lovers when the first workshops for Argentinian tango in Skopje were organized by two instructors from Austria (Holger Bock) and Slovenia (Vesna Drnovshek). A spontaneous and organic movement developed and Tango Banda was born. It became a small, but very tightly knit group, a kind of an open society for people who enjoy and share experiences through tango music and dance. Practicas and milongas are organized at different venues around the city, such as cultural centers, artists’ studios, people’s private homes, as well as in open public spaces where tango sounds and movements enchant persons walking by.

One cannot really speak of an established tango scene in Skopje and Macedonia. There aren’t many options and possibilities for organized lectures and workshops. Thus, members of Tango Banda learn and improve their technique by attending international workshops and meeting tango dancers around the world. Upon return they share their new experiences and knowledge with the other members, building upon the joint history of Tango Banda.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dancing at ‘Milongas’, term for a place or an event where tango is danced

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deconstructing Tango:

One evening the girls treated the guys to an unexpected Milonga, dressed as men

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Socializing at Milongas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tango Banda at practicas, where technique and new moves are practised

 

Milongueros - term referring to people who frequently go to milongas to dance