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Tango ­is a powerful art form—a drama of evocative compositions and passionate, sensual dance. In its native Argentina, tango is a way of life for many people.

Alongside its vibrant artistic tradition, tango also represented the struggle of marginalized people to find inspiration through art in troubled or violent political climates. Tango is more than just music and dance—it’s a cultural tradition that people have embraced to form powerful bonds across cultural and ethnic borders.

This tradition continues today, as tango continues to garner global interest. Min-On is proud to promote this wonderful and inspiring art form. Since 1970, Min-On has hosted over 2,500 tango live events in Japan!

In January 2019, the 50th Min-On Dramatic Tango concert series commenced, featuring the Fernando Marzan Sexteto. An evening performance at Nakano Sun Plaza Hall on January 22, 2019—attended by Ambassadors and diplomats from 31 countries—marked the 9th concert of the 37-concert tour spanning 34 cities in Japan.

The first half of the evening was dedicated the classical side of tango, with compositions by tango greats José Dames and Osvaldo Pugliese. The second showcased tango’s more modern side, including pieces punctuated with comedic and dramatic story-telling elements, alongside more rhythmic orchestration and complex melodies.

Notable songs from the concert included:

El huracán

The first song of the night, El huracán immediately grabbed the audience’s attention through its dynamic, elegant composition and the dancers’ intensity.

Tanguera

An elegant and powerful melody coupled with the dancers’ emotional sensuality that embodies the passionate world of tango loved by so many people worldwide.

Desarriago

A melancholy composition that evokes a strong sense of nostalgia from Fernando Marzan’s time living abroad. He composed this song as a gift to Min-On Founder Daisaku Ikeda, whose powerful words on turning one’s weaknesses into strengths to make a brighter future inspired the composer in 2008. 

Violentango

Four female dancers performed the evocative final song of the evening wearing black masks, in perfect sync with their male counterparts. The performance was a powerful statement on the suppression tango has faced from dictatorships in South America in its history and a testament to the artistic devotion of professional tango dancers.

Our sincere thanks to everyone that made this 50th Min-On Tango Series possible. We hope that the history of tango inspires you to build bridges of peace through cultural exchange, in Japan and across the globe.

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