Tango Queer

In the past thirty years the Tango has made a resurgence and is once again popular with young people in the bars and cafes of Buenos Aires. A new genre of Tango music has arisen which mixes traditional themes with electronica, and groups like The Gotan Project are now world renown. 

Also evolving is the idea and popularity of same-sex Tango, known as Tango Queer. This is partly a result of Buenos Aires’s reputation as the Gay Tourist capital of the World  - a title which it has won two years in a row at the international Gay Tourism Awards.

Just last November, Buenos Aires was host to the First International Queer Tango Festival and with it came record crowds of spectators who took classes, watched the competitions and listened to the music of Tango. Supporters say that Tango Queer isn’t just a form of Tango between two people of the same sex; it is about power issues and traditional roles within the dance. Having to learn both roles and dancing with the same sex changes the dance and the gender-issues related to it. 

There are now gay-friendly tango schools and milongas (dancehalls) emerging throughout the city, and the success of the festival ensures another one next November. To experience same-sex Tango visit one of the schools below – but remember if you are at a milonga (same-sex or traditional) and you make eye-contact with a dancer you will be required to dance. Whether you know how or not!

For more information:
A New Direction in Tango
The Kiss and Tango Guide to Buenos Aires
The History of Tango
Calendar of Events for Buenos Aires

Article and photo by Lucy Cousins, our editor in Buenos Aires

Comments

[Tiffany co]

I like to take the traditional male role in dancing--sitting at the table, drinking. Maybe I should take a class or two. ;)

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[Lucy Cousins]

Hi there,
I like dancing on tables too!

Buenos Aires has won Best Gay Destination at many International Travel Awards.

The link to the Gay Tourism Planetout awards is:
http://www.gay.com/travel/article.html?sernum=11780

Not sure how to get a ticket though!
Lucy

[Jacob (Fusiler)]

There are internation Gay Tourism Awards? Seriously? Where's the link to that, and how does one acquire an invitation to this gala event?

I like to take the traditional male role in dancing--sitting at the table, drinking. Maybe I should take a class or two. ;)