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Feature: Argentine tango sweeps across borders, conquers China

Xinhua, August 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

Tango is sweeping across Argentina's borders, taking Asia, especially China, by storm.

The Chinese have not only taken up the romantic and dramatic Latin American dance, they are excelling enough to compete in international tango competitions.

This year's key competitive event, the 2015 Tango Festival and World Cup, which is being held Aug. 14 to 27 in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires, features couples from around the globe, including Raymond Wing and Hong Chua from China's Hong Kong, and a Ukrainian/Chinese couple representing the Chinese mainland.

"We won the qualifications in Beijing, and now we bear the wonderful burden of competing in the World Cup representing China," Ukrainian-born dancer Sergiy Podbolotnyy told Xinhua, his partner Ping Yu beaming by his side.

"It's a fantastic experience. We won both categories, Salon Tango and Milonga," Podbolotnyy said, referring to the two dance style divisions in the qualifications.

The Beijing competition, he said, "was very interesting. We competed against other couples from the Chinese mainland, as well as China's Taiwan and Hong Kong."

Podbolotnyy and Ping, who have been competing together for some time, have decided to rent a salon during their stay in Buenos Aires, so they can continue to train in the lead up to the elimination rounds, which will take place at the Usina del Arte cultural center in the city's southern La Boca district.

Gustavo Mozzi, the festival's artistic director, said the competition "is getting stronger and bigger every year. It's massively popular. Last year we had 600,000 visitors and this year the number is about the same or higher."

The rising interest in tango in the East is one reason for this growing event.

"The festival brings together international (tango) chapters and what's evident is that there's been growth in Asia," Mozzi said. "The Beijing chapter has grown stronger, advanced couples came from there."

In preparation for the tango World Cup, 12 international chapters hold qualification rounds, Mozzi said, in addition to which there is the European championship.

Competitors this year have come from more than 40 countries and regions.

The World Cup finals in Salon Tango will take place Wednesday at 7 p.m. local time (2200 GMT) at the city's legendary Luna Park Stadium, a performance center and sports venue.

The classic tango tunes composed by Carlos Gardel will be played by guitarist Leonardo Sanchez and sung by the well-known singer Jairo, with Pablo Agri directing the orchestra.

The finals in Stage Tango will be held Thursday at the same venue, but with famed tango singer Raul Lavie accompanied by a sextet led by bandoneon player Horacio Romo. Endi