Bring together the choreography of one world-renowned ballet dancer; the musical direction of one piano and bandoneón prodigy; combine a cast of dancers and musicians with equal parts talent and dedication; and, add a dash or two of passion and sensuality.
What do you get?
Tango Buenos Aires, a high-energy tango dancing company that has traveled the world and will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Pabst Theater.
Tango Buenos Aires is known as "the world's most seasoned and authentic tango company." The performance features original music and choreography in a show that traces tango's history from its beginning in the streets, some theories say in brothels, to a sophisticated component of ballroom dance. Lucrecia Laurel, assistant to the show's artistic director, Rosario Bauza, promises a night of excitement.
"The show is very eloquent. People can expect to have a good time and see what tango is all about, and what Argentina is all about," says Laurel.
Two main "characters," Talia and Franco, demonstrate tango's history in four acts with the help of six musicians, a singer, and a company of dancers. But Tango Buenos Aires offers more than just the seductive dance's history. Laurel explains that tango is as much an expression of Argentinean lifestyle as a dance and a genre of music.
"Tango Buenos Aires is a taste of Argentina," says Laurel. "Tango explains what Argentinean people are like: happy, sad, tearful, passionate. What a beautiful thing to be able to share with the world: Argentinean culture."
Every element from costumes, music, and choreography are unique to Tango Buenos Aires. Laurel says the music and choreography are a mix of old (1880s-1920s) and new tango, and the costumes are a reflection of 1940s and 1950s Argentinean fashion.
Laurel describes the costumes as very beautiful, but insists that they must also be comfortable to allow the dancers optimum leg movement for the dips, lifts, twists and turns that define tango.
Also unique to Tango Buenos Aires is the caliber of the dancers selected. When casting, the director often looks for dancers who have professional experience with ballet and jazz. A variety of dance experience ensures the cast is disciplined and adds extra flavor to the choreography. The show replaces its dancers every four years to ensure youth and freshness, with the performance at the Pabst being the first for the newest cast.
Celebrated composer and tango director Osvaldo Requena created the show for Buenos Aires' famous "Michelangelo" cabaret. But the popularity of the show launched Tango Buenos Aires into the ranks of a world traveling company, making its first U.S. appearance in 1986.
Professionalism and dedication from the company and rave reviews from all who have seen the show have kept Tango Buenos Aires a premier representation of Argentinean tango around the world. Tickets are $35.
