Food Support for Tango Workers in Buenos Aires

On March 11, tango organizers and leaders from throughout the Buenos Aires tango community met to decide what actions to take in response to the growing Covid-19 pandemic.  They concluded that, due to the great likelihood that the coronavirus would spread unchecked in tango environments, it was prudent to impose an "auto-lockdown," to shut down all activities related to tango.  It is likely that many illnesses and deaths were prevented by this action, which preceded the government lockdown by 10 days.

By taking this unprecedented and selfless action, tango workers saved lives, but deprived themselves of their entire livelihood.  They hoped that the government of Buenos Aires would declare a state of emergency for the cultural sector generally, or the tango community specifically, and target aid to tango workers.  The organization we are raising money for Trabajadores del Tango Danza (TTD), a Buenos Aires-based nonprofit, has been advocating for such a declaration of emergency, but there has been none.

It has been five and a half months since the tango community in Buenos Aires stopped working, and most tango workers (dancers and musicians) have received little or no financial assistance.  Some workers are lucky and have been able to monetize online activities; some tango workers have other careers to fall back on.  But some tango workers are in a desperate struggle to pay their rent and feed themselves and their families.

TTD has been working since March to identify the tango workers, tango community members, and friends of the tango community who are in most desperate need of help.  They have been raising funds within Argentina and abroad, and using them to distribute large bags of food to individuals, couples and families.  

The Philadelphia tango community owes so much to the Buenos Aires tango community.  So many of the great tango dance and music artists who have brought inspiration to our community over the past years either are from, or still reside in, Buenos Aires.  This fundraiser is a way for Philly tango to give back to Buenos Aires tango with love, affection and great appreciation.

Follow Trabajadores del Tango Danza (TTD) on social media:

* https://m.facebook.com/TrabajadoresDelTangoDanza

* https://www.instagram.com/trabajadoresdeltangodanza

Contact TTD directly at: [email redacted] or [email redacted]


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P.S. TTD also needs donations:

* To support their professional development training for tango artists.  These trainings include topics such as video editing, graphic design, finance management, and other skills that independent tango artists need in order to build a career.  These activities are continuing over Zoom, while it is impossible to gather.  

* To support ongoing operating costs.  Incorporating as a nonprofit is a multi-stage process in Argentina, and TTD still has one stage left to complete (even though they have already been designated a nonprofit).  They need donations to help with the legal fees for this last stage of the process, and other operating costs.

**** If you'd like to earmark your donation to cover one of these other needs, please email [email redacted].  If you do not specify otherwise, your donation will be used for food support. 

Thank you very much!