# Why the rose in teeth when dancing the tango? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 6, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-rose-in-teeth-when-dancing-the-tango/462348 "2008-09-06T15:46:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-rose-in-teeth-when-dancing-the-tango/462348/1 "2008-09-06T15:46:22Z")
It has become almost a clich’e, when two people are shown dancing the tango, a rose is clenched between the woman’s teeth. Why is this, and where did the practice originate? Regards FML ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-rose-in-teeth-when-dancing-the-tango/462348/2 "2008-09-06T15:49:33Z")
From [Tango Nova](http://www.tangonova.com/odfaq/index.php?p=all): > [@](#): > > **Isn’t Argentine tango a sexy dance with a lot of dramatic flair and a rose between the teeth?** > The style of tango done on the stage for performance is referred to as tango fantasia. It is generally choreographed, and if done with an Argentine basis, will reflect many of the steps and structure associated with the traditional tango, but done larger and more open so as to be seen by an audience. The image of the rose between the teeth and the rigid outstretched arms was created in a movie role by Rudolphe Valentino in the 20’s and stuck as a camp image of tango. It is NEVER done by tango afficionados. The experience of dancing tango socially is sensual, and often feels dramatic due to the surprise element of improvisation, but ostentatious dancing or those who dance to show off steps, are not especially popular as partners. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-rose-in-teeth-when-dancing-the-tango/462348/3 "2008-09-06T15:53:26Z")
Bumped, as I’m curious, too. Perhaps the early motion pictures? Valentino era? ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-rose-in-teeth-when-dancing-the-tango/462348/4 "2008-09-06T16:17:13Z")
I was thinking early motion picture too, but the question remains “Why” did they do it… FML ---
**Author:** ![Liche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@Liche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liche)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-rose-in-teeth-when-dancing-the-tango/462348/5 "2008-09-06T20:37:16Z")
Have done quite a lot of ‘international’ (as opposed to Argentine) tango, and have never done so with a rose in my mouth, or indeed with any other flora in any other bodily orifice. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to. The thorns underneath, love, stick into your gums. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-rose-in-teeth-when-dancing-the-tango/462348/6 "2008-09-06T21:01:41Z")
The movie patrons were sure to know no kissing went on. I’m thinking it was a must to ensure this was plain. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-rose-in-teeth-when-dancing-the-tango/462348/7 "2008-09-06T22:54:16Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > The movie patrons were sure to know no kissing went on. I’m thinking it was a must to ensure this was plain. That makes sense to me, but if so it would’ve been a voluntary restraint, predating the Hollywood Production Code [1934]. ---
**Author:** ![adirondack\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@adirondack\_mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adirondack_mike)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-rose-in-teeth-when-dancing-the-tango/462348/8 "2008-09-06T23:12:24Z")
where else is she going to put the rose? While they dance. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-rose-in-teeth-when-dancing-the-tango/462348/9 "2008-09-07T16:31:10Z")
The rose-in-teeth is also a cliché for the opera \*Carmen, \*which predates the Valentino era by several decades. So when did this association come about? ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-rose-in-teeth-when-dancing-the-tango/462348/10 "2008-09-07T19:46:16Z")
But was “rose in the teeth” in the stagings of _Carmen_ before Valentino?