Cortina (Tango)
A Cortina (span: curtain ) is a briefly played, non-danceable piece of music . It is used at milongas , the dance events of the Tango Argentino , as a break to demarcate two tandas and to clear the dance floor.
After the Cortina, the music style often changes , for example from a tango block to a milonga tanda or a Vals tanda .
The duration of a Cortina is in the range of 30 to 60 seconds. A fragment of jazz , pop or folklore music is often played. On special occasions such as New Year's Eve , Carnival , Valentine's Day , Halloween , dance in May, etc., suitable Cortina music is sometimes used. The difference from DJ to DJ is big here.
In addition to the demarcation of different tandas, the Cortina serves to clear the dance floor and to separate dance couples. The area only fills up again at the next tanda. This is the rule in Buenos Aires . In Europe it happens that couples do not separate, i.e. dance several tandas together in a row. In any case, a Cortina can always be used to politely end a dance together and to change dance partners.
After a Cortina , new dance couples form. In Buenos Aires and also at traditional European milongas, this is done by cabeceo , that is, by means of non-verbal requests using eye contact and head movements. The new couples then meet directly on the dance floor.
Web links
- Cortina Collections - musical examples
- An article about the discussion among tango dancers about the meaning of tandas and cortinas
Individual evidence
- ↑ Cortina Collections - musical examples