First developed in Argentina and Brazil, the Tango swept the western world in the early 1910s, eliciting a Tango dance craze in London and Paris in 1913. Shanghai was soon to follow in the footsteps of its western rivals. These two articles from the British newspaper The North China Herald relate the introduction of the new dance known as the Tango to Shanghai society around the beginning of World War One. Far from being a passing fad, this dance would go on to enjoy popularity in Shanghai through the 1930s and beyond.
THE TANGO IN SHANGHAI: EFFORTS TOWARDS ITS INTRODUCTION
(The North - China Herald and Supreme Court & Consular Gazette, Nov 22, 1913; pg. 591)
The Backwardness of Men.
The Tango has already made its appearance in Shanghai, both publicly and privately, but people say that it is unlikely to catch on for this season at any rate. Up to the present Tango is confined to the smallest of circles, and the majority of people confess that they do not know anything about it.
But if it is true that the Tango is not to be a rage this season, millinery has taken a step in advance of it. Our lady correspondent in London said something yesterday about the Tango dress, slashed up to the knee and so forth, having a kind of feeling for the dance, and one well known modiste in Shanghai assures us that dozens of these dresses are being made for the season. Evidently the appearance of these fashions has nothing to do with Tango for the moment, and it will probably be next year before the dance becomes anything like the rage.
Appearances to Date.
The public performances of the Tango, which have been made by two well known danseuses, have attracted a considerable amount of attention, but of course there is the difference of stagecraft between these and the efforts of the common or ballroom dancer. A few nights ago the dance was shown by them in a restaurant which has the reputation of having introduced most new steps into Shanghai, and it is reported that, after they had finished, members of the audience attempted to emulate their performance, and failed miserably.
Apart from this a number of “Tango teas” have been held in the western district of the Settlement, and through their agency the dance has been taught to a limited number. One of those having the good fortune to acquire a sufficient number of the steps to do the thing in some style, is responsible for the opinion that it is not going to be a rage here. “You have to practise so much for it, and if you get a partner who doesn’t know it, you can’t put her through it, not for instance as you can do with the one-step.”
The Keenness of Curiosity.
Curiosity regarding the fame of the Tango has led a few to look for lessons, and we understand that some of the dancing mistresses and professors in town are already preparing for the demand. One is said to be taking lessons from the danseuses mentioned above in order to impart her knowledge to pupils, but if they have only just started, it looks as if it would be somewhat late in the season before any progress were made towards the Tango’s becoming at all universal.
One cause suggested for the improbability of the Tango coming immediately into fashion is that the men in Shanghai are so much worse dancers than the women. At public dances men as often as not hide themselves in the bar, and thus save the situation. But the remark just quoted refers to men as a body, and if it be a correct statement of the case, they will hardly be enthusiastic enough to give to the measure the strenuous practice required.
The Season’s Dancing.
At present dozens of people are making an attempt to acquire some sort of proficiency in reels, eight- some and foursome, but this is only one phase in the season’s doings which will pass with the big opening event at the end of this month. Locally one-stepping is to be the thing again this year: such is the general opinion. It was introduced cautiously and even timidly the year before last, but last year it superseded most of the dances. It is of particular interest to note that for the present season the authorities in charge of one of the series of dances which enliven the winter are admitting it to their programmes, having all last year strenuously set their faces against it.
Probably the Tango will come along in the course of the season as did the one-step two years ago, but for the time being it is in its very infancy here. Unless it has a bad set-back in London or New York it is almost bound to become popular, unless indeed our dancers do not possess the necessary energy to learn it.
TANGO TEAS FOR SHANGHAI
INNOVATION AT THE ASTOR HOUSE
(The North - China Herald and Supreme Court & Consular Gazette Mar 7, 1914, pg. 689)
The Tango, or versions of the same, is no stranger to Shanghai, but the famous dance may be said to have been introduced with all due formality to the public at the Astor House on Monday evening. The reception was cordial, and it will be no surprise to find interest in the dance developing into enthusiasm in the course of the series of Tango Teas arranged by the management of the hotel. The ball room had been very prettily decorated for the occasion; neatly arranged flowers and foliage and the subdued gleam of hundreds of dainty electric lights set the room off very tastefully, giving a hint of the splendours amidst which enthusiastic Tangoists meet in European capitals. There were numerous parties for tea, tables being arranged down the whole length of the room on either side, but the accommodation was scarcely sufficient for the many visitors, who must have numbered quite 200.
Exhibitions of the Tango were given by Miss Elba, Miss Phillips, and Mr. Lucas. They gave four dances, and all were observed with the keenest interest and attention, broken by bursts of applause as each dance concluded with its graceful and very precise final movements. The music for the Tango has a slow and emphatic rhythm, and the movements of the dance are correspondingly definite, precise and graceful, finished movement being of the essence of the dance. Many of the figures are attractive, some of them charming, some simple, others complicated. Among the best known movements introduced by the dancers were the El Cruzade and glide, Spanish pirouette, step glide, double one- step, fan, with reverse, scissors, single and double, hesitation glide, essence, half-fan ballet, and Argentine dip, double ballet, and finale combination.
In the intervals between the Tango dances, a programme of dance music was played, and in this way two hours passed very pleasantly. The second Tango Tea will be given on two evenings each week until April 2. The attendance on Monday evening suggests that the innovation will be a very popular one; it would, however, be unsafe to predict that the Tango has come to stay.
Many of those present also danced the Tango, and while styles generally were almost as varied as the dancers were numerous, the essential features were well caught, and many budding experts were to be picked out.