In the second part of this world dance series, let’s discover the romance of Tango. Though rumor has it that its humble beginnings in the lower class barrios of 19th century Buenos Aires were anything but romantic. In fact, some say that Tango got its rigid posture when ladies would dance in the crook of a cowboy’s arm to protect her nose from his pungent farmyard smell. (Today, however, showering before you Tango is recommended.) Tango evolved at a time when Argentina was experiencing a massive influx of immigrants from Europe and Africa. As cultures mingled, so did dance styles. Yet it wasn’t until people began dancing the Tango outside the slums that it picked up in popularity and became a firm favorite among the elite—not just in Buenos Aires but as far afield as Paris, London and Berlin. By 1913, Tango was danced throughout the clubs of New York and by the 1950s Tango was a staple in Finland. So much so that the Finns hold a Tango festival every year drawing hundreds of thousands of dancers. And there is even a style of Tango called the Finnish Tango. You’ll find many ways to embrace Tango culture on a trip to Buenos Aires. From free street performances in La Boca to dinner dances in San Telmo. Or go for a more authentic feel and check out a Milonga (a salon where people go to dance Tango) where you can sit back, relax and see how the locals do it. Even better, why not try it yourself on Explorica tours to Buenos Aires.