Anita Pouchard Serra

Visual storyteller and photojournalist

The impossible Hug : Tango and the pandemic in Argentina

Clients: The New York Times, The Guardian, Le Monde, Washington Post, Bloomberg News

Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2020-1...rgentine, 2020-10-28.

Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2020-10-28. Mario Bulacio is one of the director of The Catedral club, where he also lives, one of the iconic Milonga in Almagro neighborhood, in Buenos Aires. It started 22 years ago mixing tourists, local dancers and people who just want to enjoy the atmosphere and have a drink. Since the begining of the lockdown it remains closed. Around 50 worlers ( waiters, teachers, DJ) are part of the place and can't work since March 20th, 2020. Photograph by Anita Pouchard Serra/Hans Lucas with the support of National Geographic Society. Buenos Aires, Argentine, 2020-10-28.

Mario Bulacio is one of the dir...c Society. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Mario Bulacio is one of the director of The Catedral club, where he also lives, one of the iconic Milonga in Almagro neighborhood, in Buenos Aires. It started 22 years ago mixing tourists, local dancers and people who just want to enjoy the atmosphere and have a drink. Since the begining of the lockdown it remains closed. Around 50 worlers ( waiters, teachers, DJ) are part of the place and can't work since March 20th. Buenos Aires, Argentina by Anita Pouchard Serra with the support of National Geographic Society. Grant : NGD-84523-20

At Lucila's home, one o...ency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

At Lucila's home, one of the member of TTD, Trabajadores del Tango Danza. It's a new organization leading solidary actions for the tango community. Each 2 weeks, in one of the room of her appartment and thanks to donations, they are able to prepare around 30 packs of food for families of the community in need. Buenos Aires, Argentina by Anita Pouchard Serra/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Leila Gorojovsky was starting t...ency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Leila Gorojovsky was starting the Tango grade school at the begining of the pandemic. She spent the first months, learning through zoom and transforming her small living room in a dance floor but she couldn't find the motivation, something was missing. She uses several parts of her appartement to rehearsal movement. Buenos Aires, Argentina by Anita Pouchard Serra/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Ines Muzzopappa is a dancer, te...ency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Ines Muzzopappa is a dancer, teacher and active member of the TTD " Trabajadores Tango Danza", an organization promoting workers rights for tango dancers. Few weeks after the pandemic she started to teach online. Most of her students don't continue with her but many new started to appear, especially from abroad. She teaches this class with Corina, her partner, from her living room with a special set, mixing spanish, english and italian language in the same hour. Buenos Aires, Argentina by Anita Pouchard Serra/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Protest after one year of closi...ency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Protest after one year of closing by Tango community and Milonga directors. Buenos Aires, Argentina by Anita Pouchard Serra/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Zunilda in her appartement is t...e the living culture of tango ?

Zunilda in her appartement is taking the tango lesson with Sheila Loy.After her divorce, she started to dance a lot, for herself and she needs to continue with this despite the pandemic and the virtual component. The technology has been a challenge. Buenos Aires, Argentina by Anita Pouchard Serra/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20 THE PROJECT COVID 19 impacted one of Argentina's most important cultural emblems: the tango. The famous dance and music that represents everything that the COVID 19 prevents: embracing, closeness, intimate spaces, bringing unknown people together, is not only a passion and culture but a source of income for many cultural workers. How are they going through this unprecedented crisis and what are they inventing to preserve the living culture of tango ?

Virigina Ravenna at her home du...e the living culture of tango ?

Virigina Ravenna at her home during a virtual rehearsal with a group which took class with her since april. They are retired people who struggled with the technology at the begining. Sometimes she shows the movement from a chair close to the computer to be able to see them and feel closer. Virginia is also a psychologist, and this influence her way of teaching and build relationships with the community. Buenos Aires, Argentina by Anita Pouchard Serra/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20 THE PROJECT COVID 19 impacted one of Argentina's most important cultural emblems: the tango. The famous dance and music that represents everything that the COVID 19 prevents: embracing, closeness, intimate spaces, bringing unknown people together, is not only a passion and culture but a source of income for many cultural workers. How are they going through this unprecedented crisis and what are they inventing to preserve the living culture of tango ?

Shieila Loy teaches her zoom le...e the living culture of tango ?

Shieila Loy teaches her zoom lesson of tango.After showing the steps, she takes the time to review one by one, the screen view of each student, meanwhile she continues to give advices. Buenos Aires, Argentina by Anita Pouchard Serra/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20 THE PROJECT COVID 19 impacted one of Argentina's most important cultural emblems: the tango. The famous dance and music that represents everything that the COVID 19 prevents: embracing, closeness, intimate spaces, bringing unknown people together, is not only a passion and culture but a source of income for many cultural workers. How are they going through this unprecedented crisis and what are they inventing to preserve the living culture of tango ?

The TTD ( Trabajadores de Tango...ency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

The TTD ( Trabajadores de Tango Danza) is organizing each 2 weeks a distribution of fodd bags to members of the tango commuinity in needs. This week they use the house of a German archeologist, friend of Andrea Uchitel, a tango dancer and teacher. The house is empty and it's a perfect place to organize the bags and their future distribution. The bags are made thanks to donations, of products and money. Buenos Aires, Argentina by Anita Pouchard Serra/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

The impossible Hug : Tango and the pandemic in Argentina

Nicolas Ponce and his girlfrien...e the living culture of tango ?

Nicolas Ponce and his girlfriend in their new shop “ Flores Negras”. Nicolas is a tango DJ and a bandoneist. As his tango activities stoped during the pandemic, he started to sell plants from his girlfriend house and in instagram, with the tango name “ Flores Negras”. After a succesful begining, they moved in november to their first official shop in Villa Urquiza. Buenos Aires, Argentina by Anita Pouchard Serra/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20 THE PROJECT COVID 19 impacted one of Argentina's most important cultural emblems: the tango. The famous dance and music that represents everything that the COVID 19 prevents: embracing, closeness, intimate spaces, bringing unknown people together, is not only a passion and culture but a source of income for many cultural workers. How are they going through this unprecedented crisis and what are they inventing to preserve the living culture of tango ?

El club Catedral es una de las ...de National Geographic Society.

El club Catedral es una de las milongas más emblemáticas del barrio de Almagro, en Buenos Aires. Comenzó hace 22 años mezclando turistas, bailarines locales y gente que sólo quiere disfrutar del ambiente y tomar una copa. Desde el inicio de la pandemia, permanece cerrado. Alrededor de 50 trabajadores (camareros, profesores, DJ) forman parte del local y no pueden trabajar desde el 20 de marzo. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Anita Pouchard Serra con el apoyo de National Geographic Society.

Izq: La profe de tango ense&...de National Geographic Society.

Izq: La profe de tango enseña un paso a Walter, abajo de la autopista en la Milonguita de Parque Chacabuco Der: Una caja de fosforitos " Si Bailamos" en la casa de Ines Muzzopappa. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Anita Pouchard Serra con el apoyo de National Geographic Society.

" La Milonguita del Pa...ency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

" La Milonguita del Parque Chacabuco " is a "clandestine" milonga which appeared at the begining of novemeber in Parque Chacabuco, a garden crossed by a high way. For many people, especially retired people forwhich tango represents a hobby and a way of life, it's an essential space. Officially, this is not allowed yet, but Police don't disturb them.Buenos Aires, Argentina by Anita Pouchard Serra/National Geographic Society Covid-19 Emergency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

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Thumbnail of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2020-10_Argentine, 2020-10-28.

Thumbnail of Mario Bulacio is one of the dire_ic Society. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Thumbnail of At Lucila's home, one of_gency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Thumbnail of Leila Gorojovsky was starting th_gency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Thumbnail of Ines Muzzopappa is a dancer, tea_gency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Thumbnail of Protest after one year of closin_gency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Thumbnail of Zunilda in her appartement is ta_ve the living culture of tango ?

Thumbnail of Virigina Ravenna at her home dur_ve the living culture of tango ?

Thumbnail of Shieila Loy teaches her zoom les_ve the living culture of tango ?

Thumbnail of The TTD ( Trabajadores de Tango _gency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Thumbnail of The impossible Hug : Tango and the pandemic in Argentina

Thumbnail of Nicolas Ponce and his girlfriend_ve the living culture of tango ?

Thumbnail of El club Catedral es una de las m_ de National Geographic Society.

Thumbnail of Izq: La profe de tango ense&_ de National Geographic Society.

Thumbnail of " La Milonguita del Par_gency Fund. Grant : NGD-84523-20

Public Project

The impossible Hug : Tango and the pandemic in Argentina

Copyright Anita Pouchard Serra 2024

Updated Dec 2021

Location Buenos Aires

Topics Art, Dance, Feature, National Geographic, Pandemic, Tango

Summary

"The tango represents everything that COVID 19 prevents: embracing the other, closeness, intimate spaces, bringing together unknown people. A UNESCO Intangible Heritage of Humanity, tango is culture but it is also work. One year after the beginning of the pandemic, tango is one of the few industries that has not yet resumed all its activities in Argentina. The milongas are still closed, leaving many workers and amateurs on the sidelines. The classes adapted to the virtual, embracing the air, the chairs or the walls of the houses, to maintain the social link. The community began to organize to fight protocols to reopen their spaces and also to help those most in need, delivering bags of food to the affected workers of a sector that, behind the glitz and glamorous propaganda, has always been precarious and little recognized."
The project has been done with the support of National Geographic Society Emergency Fund for JournalistsThe photo essay has been published in The Guardian, Der Spiegel and Vice
Buenos Aires, Argentina

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