What music can we dance to?

This post is intended to give a quick and solid reference in regards with one of the most frequent questions we are asked in class, especially at the early stages: What music do you recommend us to practice to?

Tango music’s history is rich, varied and more than one hundred and fifty years old. A well-seasoned dancer generally knows  quite a bit about it and is able to tell, just by listening to the first bars of a song, which orchestra is playing it, who the singer is and of course to which time frame that recording corresponds.

That kind of knowledge is built up with time and that moment will certainly come for you too. So let’s get started with three fundamental orchestras you definitely need to know. This order in which they are presented does not correspond to an appreciation of importance, they are all equally great, but to our personal view in regards to which ones are friendlier to a newer ear and pair of feet. They old took part of “the golden age” of tango in the decade of the forties. 

1. Carlos Di Sarli orchestra.

Carlos Di Sarli’s sound is rich, wavy and with reminisences of the sea. He was born in Bahía Blanca, a citiy by the sea in the south of the Argentinean province of Buenos Aires. This orchestra is ideal to begin getting acquainted with tango’s powerful rhythm while not getting lost in speed.

Please check the following link to some representative “tandas” (music sets) by Carlos Di Sarli’s orchestra.

Juan D’Arienzo was known as “El rey del compás” (The Rhythm King). As the name suggests his sound was extremely rhythmical and powerful with dramatic stops which seasoned dancers love. His orchestra was active between the late ’20s well into the mid-70’s. Check out the following link to a powerful “tanda” by D’Arienzo’s orchestra.

3.  Angel D’Agostino orchestra

D’Agostino’s orchestra is one of our favourites. His delicate and at the same time rhythmical style is perfect for both the pure joy of listening and responding to music with a well crafted move. D’Agostino’s orchestra’s also belonged to the “Golden Age of Tango”. Here a link to a wonderful tanda put together by TangoDJ Damián Boggio.

We hope you enjoy them. A more extensive article with more orchestras and recommendations will follow up soon. Pplease leave your comments below and thank you reading.