Salon tango champions Hiroshi and Kyoko Yamao,
and offstage,
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Argentine Couple Takes Title at World Tango Championships
The 7th World Tango Championships ended in Buenos Aires with the triumph of Argentine dancers Jonathan Spitel and Betsabet Flores in the “Stage Tango” category.
“We’re incredibly excited. We didn’t expect it. We’re so happy!” Spitel told reporters Monday just seconds after the couple was named champion.
Second place went to the Argentine couple Cristian David Correa and Manuela Rossi, while third was taken by Nao Tsutsumishita and Cristian Andres Lopez representing Japan.
The final, disputed at Luna Park Stadium before a big crowd, was enriched by the performances of well-known interpreters of the 2/4 rhythm like singers Raul Lavie and Elena Roger and the ballet of Mora Godoy.
The “Stage” category refers to tango choreographed for the theater, while the “Salon Tango” is all about the pure Buenos Aires style of ballroom tango, in spite of which a Japanese couple dominated the final of the latter category on Sunday.
Hiroshi and Kyoko Yamao were winners of the “Salon Tango” thanks to the “skill and feeling” they displayed in the competition, the jury said.
Close to 1,000 dancers from 25 countries took part in this edition of the World Tango Championships, which coincided with a Tango Festival. EFE
Here are the Stage Tango champions,