A mixture of passion, sensuality, nostalgia and melancholy, the tango is the dance of Argentina. Every child learns it, every couple knows it. The tango originated in the late 18th century boliches (brothels) where the lower-class Porteños (which is what Buenos Aires residents call themselves) went to drown their sorrows. Its influences came from the many immigrants who arrived from Europe (Italy, in particular) and Africa. With universal suffrage in 1912, the lower class and the European and African cultures became a part of mainstream Buenos Aires. Before long, the tango became known internationally and was soon all the rage in cosmopolitan cities like Paris. Spending a night visiting one of the many Tango Shows the city offers is a MUST when you are visiting Buenos Aires.