The recent global renaissance of tango dancing has been accompanied by the emergence of a thriving tango economy in New York City (NYC) that has encouraged the arrival of Argentine tango dancers and amateurs artists (tango immigrants) in recent years. This article builds on social capital theory to examine the importance of the Manhattan tango world as a reservoir for social resources (e.g., health information, contact for jobs, referrals) to satisfy their members' social and health needs. Tango immigrants seek informal access to health care through the assistance of health practitioners belonging to their tango networks (tango brokers), a relevant issue given the fact that many artists are uninsured and depend on their physical labor to perform. This article's ultimate goal is aimed at providing a theoretical contribution to our understanding of contemporary entertainment forms as ethnic social niches for immigrants' informal access to valued resources via interpersonal relationships. © 2005 Sage Publications.

access to health care immigrants Social niches Tango Argentina Social capital

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