In Strangers' Arms

The tango is easily the most iconic dance of the last century, its images as familiar as an old friend. But are they the whole story? Peeling back the poster propaganda that has always characterized the tango publicly, this intimate study shows the invisible heart of the dance and the culture that raised it. Drawing on direct experience and conversations with dancers, it reveals much about the role of the tango in Argentinean culture.

Equal parts history, memoir, and ethnography, In Strangers' Arms is both an evocative ballad dedicated to Buenos Aires, and an effective and aesthetic anatomy of the dance form. Dujovne's account is deeply intelligent, charming, perceptive, and well researched." —Eric Van Young, Distinguished professor of history, University of California, San Diego"Unique among tango books published outside Argentina, In Strangers' Arms brings us face to face with an intimate tango, one as far removed from the big stages as it is from the stereotype of the Latin male." —Sergio Pujol, author of Discepolo, una biografia argentina"A must-read for tango aficionados. In her warm, funny, direct style, Beatriz Dujovne dispels the myths surrounding the dance and probes the heart of the tango in an honest and accurate portrayal of the dance and its allure." —Alex Krebs, tango dancer and musician

Beatriz Dujovne was born and raised in Buenos Aires, and has lived half of her adult life in the American Midwest. She received a graduate degree in psychology from the University of Buenos Aires, and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. She now dances in Buenos Aires and in the United States.