San Telmo's El Querandi Tango Show

One of the cornerstones of the Buenos Aires experience is to watch tango. Whether on a street corner, plaza, or on a stage, the exquisite foot work may look easy but is a tangled ballet of fast pivots and glides that mesmerizes.

I must admit that I find any kind of staged show in any country cringeworthy, but the El Querandi Tango show in San Telmo - set in the neighborhood (along with la Boca) where the dance originated - is first rate.

Choose to sit for dinner or just the show itself. Either way prepare to see a show that takes you through the immigrant and brothel roots all the way to its current position as Argentina's greatest export. The dancers at El Querandi bring no attitude but passion to their performance.

Here is a sample of the foot work up close:

For bookings, visit the website: www.querandi.com.ar