TANGO
Theories about its precise origins are diverse and contradictory: some historians say it was developed from South American and European dances in poor areas of Buenos Aires by groups of immigrant men, and that it was considered unseemly for women to participate because of the dance’s sexual connotations. Others say prostitutes developed the tango in the brothels to pass the time, then the men practised it among themselves so that they could invite the women to dance — the flashiest males vied for the hearts of the hottest working girls.
Sarah Keller, 34, is already studying in Buenos Aires. A year ago, she took a sabbatical from her literary editor’s job at a large London publisher to learn tango in Argentina for six months. When the sabbatical was over, she returned to London — to clear her desk before going back to Argentina again. Not even the lure of a romance in England was enough to keep her here. “I’d got to where I’d always wanted to get in my dream career, but actually I found the whole London existence of work, work, work was stifling the life out of me. I’d always loved dancing, so thought that I’d try it while travelling on my sabbatical. In the tango, in the dancehalls of Buenos Aires, I found everything that I’d been looking for. Now I want to keep learning, to get better and better. I’ve got some freelance editorial work, which should be just enough to support me. My priorities have changed completely.”