Dance review: m¡longa

When Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui decided to make a dance about Argentine tango, he knew there was only one place to go: Buenos Aires. Losing himself in the sights, sounds and smells of the city, he set about re-creating a m¡longa (a tango dance party) on stage – but in his own unique way. This is no Strictly Come Dancing-style extravaganza, nor is it a reincarnation of a late 19th century South American dance hall, where Argentine tango was born. Instead, it’s an exciting, sensuous and tender coming together of styles. Cherkaoui’s brand of contemporary dance, which has always refused to be boxed in, still lives and breathes. But, aside from one beautiful duet performed by two contemporary dancers, most of the show is delivered by ten tango exponents.