ARGENTINA: Tango dancers strut their stuff with flamboyant twirls and dips as the highly competitive Tango World Championships kicks off in Buenos Aires

Record ID: 447043

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Tango dancers strut their stuff with flamboyant twirls and dips as the highly competitive Tango World Championships kicks off in Buenos Aires
  • Date: 15th August 2012
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE WORLD TANGO FESTIVAL, GUSTAVO MOZZI, SAYING: "I think it is an event that always full of surprises and that gathers the most effervescent and interesting of the genre. It supports diversity across generations and this is truthfully what tango vigourously has and what it has that is vital. And for me this is the key to why the festival has such a clear link to with everyday life and why it attracts people of all ages."
  • Embargoed: 30th August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Arts
  • Reuters ID: LVABOBM3O1RT48IZRM8O3ZGFXOLS
  • Story Text: Tango dancers from across the world gathered in Buenos Aires on Tuesday (August 14) for the opening of the 2012 World Tango Championships.
    The director of the annual event, Gustavo Mozzi, explained why the event has become so popular for tango dancers of all ages and nationalities.

    "I think it is an event that always full of surprises and that gathers the most effervescent and interesting of the genre. It supports diversity across generations and this is truthfully what tango vigourously has and what it has that is vital," he said.

    "And for me this is the key to why the festival has such a clear link to with everyday life and why it attracts people of all ages," he added.
    The event features competitions in two categories of tango; stage and salon.
    Stage Tango dancers are known to be highly theatrical and often include fancy embellishments, acrobatics and sensationalized solo moves compared to the stricter and more traditional Salon Tango.
    Ivan Romero and his dance partner Silvana Nunez, the 2004 Stage Tango Champions, explained why they keep on returning to compete in the event.

    "A lot of time has gone by. And after 10 years they continue this great party that attracts many people from abroad and it has become a massive event, the truth is that I love it," said Romero.

    "Each year it gets much bigger, it is better organised and it is a pleasure to come. It's good for people to know that in Argentina there is a world championship of tango so people will come and see the dancers; the old ones, the new ones and the ones who want to become [tango dancers]," added Nunez.
    Tango's international popularity has taken off in recent years and thousands of tourists now flock to the Argentine capital to watch the heated battles between the world's top dancers and join in the World Tango Festival, which also offers free performances, tango classes, conferences, films and book launches.
    The finals of the 2012 World Tango Championships will be held on August 28.
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