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To the uninitiated, tango is just a passionate dance, full of dramatic dips and roses clenched between gritted teeth - but nothing could be further from the truth. The tradition of tango canción (sung tango) is the true soul of the genre, and Sandra Luna is one of its most prominent modern voices.

While the world of tango has always been a distinctly masculine one, Luna adds a feminine mystique to a sound that was conceived in the bars and brothels of Argentina at the beginning of the twentieth century.

As an ironic nod to the genre's machismo, she named her debut album "Tango Var¢n" ("Male Tango"). It was nominated for a 2004 "Best Traditional World Music Album" Grammy, but was edged out Sunday night by Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

02/16/05