Doing Tango in Istanbul

Tango is a gendered dance. In fact, doing tango is performing gender roles itself. Likewise a person who personates a 'woman' or 'man' by choosing some already determined features that fit with her alleged gender as 'performative gender theory' suggests; tango dancers also choose and wear on roles that are presented to them in the name of being 'leader' or 'follower'. This book is about figuring out the idea of 'gender' among tango dancers in Istanbul. Specifically, how individuals move in and out of the female and male roles in tango; the interpretation of these roles and the motivating factors beyond to tailoring of these roles. Author's tango story started just by coincidence, but at the end inspired her write a book about it. Author suggests that how one dances tango tells something about 'self'. Tango's magnificence comes from its expressive power. Thus, this book invites you to see how people dance and reflect the gendered roles in one of the worldwidely respected tango communities.

Autorentext

Melis Merih K l ç is currently having her Ph.d. at Galatasaray University in Media and Communication Studies. She is working as a research assistant at ITU, Humanities and Social Sciences Department. What motivates her in academia is her passion towards understanding 'human being' and the socio-cultural dynamics.