Virtual Summit Submission

ACC
Spanish

Biography

Naomi Rees is a fourth-year ACC student pursuing a bachelor's degree in Spanish. She is interested in communication and the power of words to define people and places. Along with studying abroad in Argentina, she has worked as a Spanish TA at ACC for the past three years. She hopes to gain fluency in Spanish and practice pediatrics in Central America, vaccinating and providing medical care to expecting mothers.

Project

Immigration and Argentine Tango
What impact did immigration have on Argentine tango? From 1870-1950, Argentina experienced massive levels of immigration. During the same time period, from 1870-1920, Argentine tango was developing as a dance. I was curious how the two interacted, and what influence immigration exerted on the national dance of Argentina.
While in Buenos Aires, I attended tango events, researched in libraries and archives, and spoke with dancers and musicians about tango. I discovered that tango is a product of immigration, influenced by myriad cultures, from Czechia to Angola to France to native Guaraní customs. I used the example of dance as one facet of the benefits of immigration, not solely in terms of population or economics, but bolstering the arts and creating a sense of national pride.
This is relevant in the United States as our government seeks to restrict immigration, a practice that has historically fomented a nation's decline. Higher levels of immigration correspond to higher levels of employment, a stronger economy, safer cities, and a robust cultural scene. Tango serves as one of many examples of the positive contributions of immigrants.