The modern Argentine Tango is descended from a dance of the same name, that was heavily influenced by the Tango Habanera, which in turn was an amalgamation of the Tango Flamenco, also known as the Tango andaluz, and the Milonga. The Milonga derived from the music and dance of the people living in the country-side.
Band leaders could not reproduce the guitar rhythms necessary for the Tango Flamenco with orchestra instruments, and as such, the Tango Flamenco was fused with the rhythms of the Habanera. The Tango Habanera was first heard in 1883, but quickly died out before the turn of the century. This dance has been credited as the first exemplar of the Argentine Tango.
In the early 1900′s, the “compadrito” created the straightened out versions of the Argentine Tango, and established the traditional roles for the dance. He borrowed heavily from an African style dance called the Candombe, using their flexed knee stance, walking steps and turns. At this point, the Argentine Tango would not have been danced with either a flower or castanets.
Short-lived Tango singer Carlos Gardel is accredited with the origination of the modern Argentine Tango, from 1938-1940. During the 1940′s and 1950′s, major recording studios set up in Buenos Aires, and the recordings of tango orchestras and singers were prolific through those decades.
There are three major forms of modern Argentine Tango: Salón, Fantasía, and scenario (stage). Most exported shows are the scenario version, which are strict routines and not the true dance as taught in Buenos Aires.