Tango and Fado

Two ports, two cities overlooking the Atlantic, two music styles. One dominated by the bandoneon, the other dominated by one of the most fragile instruments on earth, the Portuguese guitar (it can actually get out of tone just by shifting it 10C!).
Fado (also meaning fate) is the Portuguese equivalent of tango, the Portuguese blues. Initially it was danced to but gradually it moved from the music halls to the restaurants where it started to be only listened to. It is usually a sad, languid music style but it can get quite happy and joyful.
In Portugal it's rare to go to a milonga that doesn't play a fado or two along with tango. It's surprisingly tango-friendly and because the essence of both styles is so close, it fits perfectly and doesn't feel out of place.
Below, Juan Capprioti and Graciana Romeo dance to a piece from Camane. To be honest I have seen them dacing to other songs (that I prefer) but this seems to be the only one on youtube. I hope you enjoy it and I would like to know (especially those of you who do not like to dance to non-tango music) your opinion!

The Lisbon Miracle

Portugal is a country with a deep religious feeling. Everybody believes that miracles just happen. For a city that did not have much tango not so many years ago it looks like a miracle how the standard of dance in Lisbon is so good. The miracle has a name (or two names): Juan Capriotti y Graciana Romero.
All of those who are involved in tango are part of the miracle, Lusitango for instance. But it's undeniable that JyG presence and expertise has propped the tango a few notches up.