Tradition can live on when the reasons for it no longer exist or have been forgotten. Such as this: no longer useful. Sometimes, parts of a tradition remain wise: some modern usage.
Many people talk about the "one true way"to dance tango. In fact, Myths of the "one true style" are exactly that (each barrio had it's style). I've read that "El Cachefaz" (1920s) was considered a brilliant dancer in his day, and that he is credited with making the tango more "vertical" and less bent over. He included jumps and other tricks in his dancing:
We believe that tango evolves and lives. If you look at old videos, you can see that styles of dancing have changed a lot over the years.
Here's an interesting discussion of the evolution of stage tango: discussion.
If you watch those old videos, you see that there wasn't the emphasis on core, or on moving from the center that we have today. There was a progression of style from bent over to canyenge to standing upright when they danced.
Tandas
The tradition of tandas started as a practical way to break up groups of dances so that someone paying had a clear time when his purchase was completed. a sordid past.
Yet tandas serve a great, though different, purpose today. We dance several songs together with a partner to have time to get to know the partner, the way they lead and follow, the way they respond to the music and to you. And then there is a graceful break where we sit down or find another partner.
Men Danced With Men
Originally, tango was not a respectable pursuit. Because families didn't want their young daughters mixing with the "lower" classes and attendant violence, there frequently weren't enough women to go around. So men practicing with other men was just the only way they would get a chance to improve their dance. Why men danced with men.
Why the Cabeceo
Originally, "saving face" was not only a way to avoid embarrassment. Dances were sometimes dangerous, with violence fairly common. (See the last link). These days, custom allows wives or fiancés to dance with other men. However, that could well not have been the case in a very Latin culture years ago. It's easy to understand there being fights if a man asked a woman to dance and her fiancé/husband felt this was an insult to him.
The cabeceo allowed a gracious way for a man to ask and a woman to indicate "no" without risking an affront which could escalate to violence.
For the Cabeceo to work well, it helps if the environment is conducive. For example: milongas which are well-lit, men on one side & women on the other, people searching for a gaze at the beginning of a song instead of talking.
Because of the difference in culture and milonga environment, we see less of the Cabeceo in the US.
Conclusion
There is an argument that Finnish tango is the most authentic. the argument.
But we prefer a salon style that has its roots in the Villa Urquiza style, especially the dance of Gerardo Portaleo. They dance so completely together that it is very beautiful.
And yet, this very idea of "style" may be one that has grown outside of Argentine. We have seen many posts that mention that Argentines don't talk about style. Only about whether the dancing is good or not. Good dancing vs style.
A few wonderful quotes from an article by Sharna Fabiano: "Foreigners and natives alike fantasize about some fixed moment in history when tango was “authentic.” We try to channel that moment, to become it. Salon Canning, Buenos Aires, November 14, 1936. Dance traditions are created by human beings, and dances, like humans, shift and change. Argentine dancer Olga Besio wrote, “The tango is a living thing, like a human being.” Think about your own life: your hairstyles, favorite music, and political views. Which is more authentic, you at 6 years old or you at 32? "
Conclusion to the Conclusion
We believe all "styles" are "good" and we most care about whether the dancing is good. We believe that tango is about being human together.
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