People in the United States and around the world have had a fascination with Tango since it first spread from Argentina in the 19-teens. You may have been exposed to Tango through television shows like Dancing with the Stars or Hollywood films like the 1992 movies Scent of a Woman where Al Pacino dances with a dance novice to a Carlos Gardel Tango, Por una Cabeza. Or maybe you're familiar with the music of Astro Piazolla, whose works have become popular among musicians in the last 20 years. So think for a moment about your own conception of Tango and your associations with the genre that immediately come to your mind. Maybe you see a stereotypical sexy couple dressed in red and black costumes dancing with legs entwined. Perhaps you think of passion, romance, and seduction, or maybe you hear the mournful sound of the bandoneon. This is the bandoneon instrument right here. But what is Tango really? In truth, Tango is a multi-dimensional art form that encompasses dance, music, and poetry. In this course, you will learn about the defining traits of these three dimensions. Distinct musical elements already identify the Tango such as rhythm, instrumentation, phrasing, form, harmony, and melody. Distinct dance elements visually define the tango such as the embrace, the connection between the partners and an expression of the music through basic steps and figures. Finally, distinct literary elements often lost outside of the Spanish-speaking world also describe the tango, especially themes like sadness, loss, love, betrayal, nostalgia, loss of innocence, the fallen woman, disillusionment, and fatalism. As I discuss and illustrate the different components of the Tango in the following videos, you will be able to break down your own stereotypes and preconceptions of the art form. We will explore the core elements that define each dimension, and you will gain an appreciation of some key Tango musicians, poets, and dancers whose creative work expresses the essence of the genre.