Abstract

Abstract:

This essay examines the author's grandparents' complicated and fraught relationship through the lens of tango, a dance that brought them together and allowed them to find a shared sense of peace despite the traumas her grandfather carried with him and the abuse he inflicted on his wife and children. She also looks back on how her own journey as a tango dancer led her to a deeper understanding of how complicated love is, and how those who are capable of great tenderness can also cause the greatest hurt. Finally, she explores how tango gave her grandmother a deep sense of joy she passed on to her children, giving them the strength and fortitude to survive their father's violence and break the cycle of intergenerational trauma.

pdf

Share