The rose-in-the-mouth image has no real connection with either Ballroom tango or Argentine tango. It is a Hollywood invention from the film "The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse" with Rudolph Valentino and derives singlehandedly from that film, but unfortunately has persisted to this day, because of the popularity of Valentino and the film. As was often the case, and still is sometimes, Hollywood directors did not do extensive research to authenticate foreign cultures they portrayed, and in this case, the notion of tango or of the proper attire. Francisco Canaro mentions in his autobiography that he was aghast and shocked that he and his orchestra members were expected to wear gaucho outfits when they arrived to play in Paris...they of course had packed all their suits and tuxedos. In fact it was a deal-breaker...they had to wear them! He protested that it wasn't authentic but to no avail. Many people then and now still do not realize that tango is an urban phenomenon from Buenos Aires specifically (and in part from Montevideo), not so much from Argentina in general.
Cheers, Charles ************** Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489 _______________________________________________ Tango-L mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
