Regarding Wes' request for tango contact information, for Rio:
Here is the primary web site for southern Brazil tango information:
http://go.to/riotango
There is a sort of vestigial ballroom dance bulletin board for Rio and
São Paulo.
They sometimes mention tango events in Rio:
http://www.dancadesalao.com/agenda
Basically, I would take the information from these sites with a huge
dose of caution: From the sites above, I was led to believe that there
would be potentially great tango in São Paulo, Brazil's most
sophisticated and largest city (20 million), and close to Argentina.
But in Nov. of last year, tango there was a joke. Worse than a joke,
it was worthless - a total waste of time. I communicated with people
in the Rio tango community, but from their descriptions of that scene,
I would have grave doubts about the tango options there as well. Rio
is a sewer of violence, overcrowding, pollution, and depravity, but if
that kind of thing appeals to you, go for it. But I wouldn't expect
too much in the way of tango. Brazil is what you might call my adopted
country, and I do love it, but from over 20 years of work and
experience there, and months in Argentina, I can tell you for sure that
it is hard to find two more different cultures - psychologically,
emotionally, interpersonally - than these two neighboring countries.
In retrospect, it's no wonder that Brazilian people (in general) just
aren't interested in the morbid psychology, the utter seriousness,
pretentiousness, and self-absorption of tango. Their dance and musical
interests are of a very different nature; utterly irreverent, joyous,
crazy, free-form, colorful. Tango is dark, depressive, exclusive (not
open, warm, or friendly), often negative and selfish. Samba and the
other Brazilian popular dances celebrate joy and color (the exact
opposite of tango). They are fun, friendly, happy, laughing, and
wonderfully inclusive. Everyone is genuinely welcome, regardless of
looks, age, clothes, ability. Totally different cultures, as
expressed in their national dances.
Steve Hoffman
