About the prize winner:
Kirsty Bennett. “‘One thousand and one nights’ of tango: Moving between Argentina, North Africa, and the Middle East,” (Vol. 17, no. 1).

The judges have unanimously selected Kirsty Bennett’s essay, part of the special issue entitled “African-heritage partner dances: Creolizing connection, transnational movement,” edited by Ananya Jahanara Kabir, as this year’s winning essay. They note that this is a skilfully crafted essay focused on the transnational migrations of tango across Argentina, the Middle East and North Africa. Sensitive to the historical weight of (self-)orientalised representations, the essay innovatively repositions tango within South-South entanglements and solidarities. Original in its sophisticated discussion and weaving of dance, music, literature and religion, the essay sheds new light on the embodied yet transcendent nature of cultural expression.

Our warmest congratulations to Kirsty Bennett and our thanks to this year’s judges for their time and enthusiasm:

Professor Françoise Lionnet, Harvard University, USA

Professor Frances Steel, University of Wollongong, Australia