Tango's
origins go back to the 19th century, somewhere around the 1870's.
It was born and developed in the working-class suburbs outside
the city of Buenos Aires. Between 1860 and 1925, 70% of the immigrant
population were men who came to Argentina to try their luck. Because
of this, it was common for men to dance together, due to the fact
that the majority of immigrants were men.
Tango
grew from a combination of forms: Cuban habañera, milonga
(a type of folk dance), African candombe and Italian melodies.
Immigrants made a major contribution to the development of tango,
especially Italians, the group with greater numbers and from where
the first musicians came. They gave to the tango its melancholic
and nostalgic air.