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Tango was born in the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the beginning of the 20th century. Its golden age took place in the 1940s, and since then the music has not experienced the level of popularity it once had.

But things might have seemed different in Portland on a recent summer evening as a crowd gathered to participate in a local celebration of tango culture at “Dancing in Director Park – Tango Night!”

Experts, first-timers, tourists and a few people that just happened to be in the park had the opportunity to learn the basics of tango from expert dance instructors Amy PK and Mike Naus.

Peninsula Park Gazebo – 700 N. Rosa Parks Way, Portland, 7- 9 pm

Then the main event took place. The Alex Krebs Quartet with Megan Haupt on vocals took the stage and the full immersion began. Krebs, who also dances and teaches Argentine tango, has studied the bandoneón, a traditional tango instrument, for more than 10 years.

The quartet began their set with classic Argentine tango songs that genre lovers thoroughly enjoyed. Over a dozen couples took over the dance floor and gracefully moved to the best of the 2×4 while changing partners between songs.

But the band was not all about remembering the golden age. The Alex Krebs Tango Quartet played their own original songs, which were released on a CD earlier this summer.

Arts & Life was there to catch all the action. Watch our video to see the dancers and the Alex Krebs Tango Quartet perform.

This story originally appeared on Oregon Public Broadcasting.