Performing Gender: Part One

Performing Gender in Milongas of Buenos Aires: Part One
Video conference at 'Body, Movement and Dance in Global Perspective' Hong Kong
24-26 July, 2008
more info at: www.adagioconbrio.co.uk
Photos by Daniel Machado
Argentine Tango, which has been called the world's most passionate dance, is performed in halls called Milongas. In this paper I look at the Tango dancers in several Milongas as a micro-society, in which broader, socially accepted gendered behaviour is repeated and seldom, if ever, contested. The performance of gender roles in Buenos Aires, ritualized with miradas, cabeceo, piropos and asados, empowers stereotypes of masculinity and femininity (the basis of Tango), with its "macho" men and their mistresses. The Milonga codes and Tango dancing provides a context where such stereotypes can be performed.
The focus of my investigation was to observe gendered behaviour in dancing, concentrating on the Argentinean Tango because the categorization of sexuality and gender in this dance form is particularly well defined. In this presentation, I will make some observations about social recreational activities that relate to food and courtship in Buenos Aires and investigate some parallels between the rules of Tango dancing and social roles in Buenos Aires.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Performing
• Gender
• Adriana
• Pegorer
• Tango
• Milongas
• Hong
• Kong
• 'Body
• Movement
• and
• Dance
• in
• Global
• Perspective'

[7575papa]

very relevant comments. On to part 2.

[inpira00]

What Adriana is saying in this video expresses the way I have felt with tango. I like tango as a dance but I have always found difficult to understand and accept the cultural code becoming an unsettled practice for me. Tango is a living form in constant movement and transformation ....lets embrace the challenges and changes! I have to say that I am astonished by the comments in this page...come on guys grow up are you still feeling threatened by women's intelligent remarks?

Inma

[adagioconbrio]

joegrohens: in the light of the recent debate on Borat's spoof documentary on Glod (romanian village) perhaps the feminists in NYC had a 'pretty good reason' not to smile....

[adagioconbrio]

ajahajaha! perhaps next time I should use Borat 'interviewing system' with the mlongueros/tangueros!! good idea!! but...hold on: i think i already do!!

[joegrohens]

You remind me of Borat when he met the feminists in NYC, and said "Why the long face? Come on sweetheart, give us a smile."

[finnianr]

I think your presentation would benefit a lot if you had the script positioned just below the camera and have someone turn the pages for you. Then we can admire your beautiful eyes better.

[sfqueertanguero]

Bravo! Very insightful.

[piccoloalbero]

Well done! Angelo Orazio