Argentina's "green wave" ripples to tango
Since the beginning of tango, the steamy Argentine dance has followed "traditional" gender roles: a man leads and a woman follows. But following the "green wave" that has swept Argentina and other Latin America in recent years, feminist organizations are seeking to change the way tango is danced. By changing the main symbol of Argentine culture, they hope to also shift the machismo culture that has characterized Argentina for much of its history.
The "Ni una menos" movement is leading an initiative to create queerrevitalized dance in which a woman can lead; men dance with men, and women with women. They've also made an effort to lead queer tango classes, incorporate female orchestras, and have even created a Buenos Aires International Queer Tango Festival. It's a move that has gained traction and has attracted many foreigners who come to learn the dance.
It's not the first time Argentine feminists have made such moves to shake things up in their country. Perhaps the most notable change, other than years of green painted marches fighting for abortion rights, was incorporating gender-inclusive Spanish, a movement that rippled across the hemisphere.
[spanish]