(text taken from www.tangobuenosaires.gov.ar)

Tango Buenos Aires summarizes the singularity and genuineness of our artistic and cultural manifestations, showing the distinctive features of our City. The projection and importance of tango in the world achieved such magnitude that in December 2009 it was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in a decision made by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee*. Numerous activities linked to the genre enrich Buenos Aires’ cultural agenda, but, without a doubt, the most important tango international event comes to life with the Dance Festival and World Championship.

Tango Buenos Aires synthesizes a passion that year after year increases its followers not only in Argentina but also around the world and strengthens the commitment to the historical heritage, the growth and the projection of tango in all its ways of expression.

The growth, projection and importance of tango worldwide has achieved such magnitude that in December 2009 it was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, by decision of the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO. Similarly, and since February 2010, tango has an official and exclusive auditorium in the City: the “Teatro de la Ribera” in La Boca neighborhood. All programming in this auditorium will be exclusively dedicated to porteña music, with milongas, shows, lectures and exhibitions.

Tango Buenos Aires also includes the Dance Festival and World Championship: the tango event of greater international impact. Thousands of dancers and audiences from all around the world come to the City to participate and to live the various activities that this event offers, which already has its set date in the month of August. Similarly, but of local nature and within the scope of the milongas, the City Dance Championship is celebrated every year. This Championship extends to the whole length and width of the City; it travels through the porteño neighborhoods and every night of the competition ends with a different milonga.

In this way, every day more activities and events linked to tango enrich the cultural porteña agenda and enhance this asset that summarizes the most unique and genuine of our artistic and cultural manifestations, showing the hallmarks of the porteña culture which combines tradition, renewal and diversity of a type of music that identifies a proudly tanguera city.

Festival and Dance World Cup
The Dance World Festival and Championship is the great opportunity to witness and enjoy a unique popular holiday where the City becomes the mecca for tango dancers from around the world and for the general public.

From the 13th to the 31st of August, 2010 the City lives tango. A true celebration of this kind of dance on its different variants: concerts, festivals and milongas with live music, conferences, thematic exhibits, shows, presentation of books, cinema, workshops, business rounds, dancing lessons and seminars, permanent exhibits and the great Dance World Championship in the categories “Tango Salon” and “Stage Tango”.

Without a doubt the Dance World Festival and Championship consolidates objectives: the valuation and recovery of historical plays and styles, the renewal of the repertoire and the inclusion and exchange of diverse languages. At the same time it is a great display of the annual tango activity and a strong and provocative generator of artistic and cultural proposals that, as years go by, enrich the cultural heritage and the agenda of the city.

The Dance World Championship and Festival will take place from August 13 to August 31, 2010. The conceptual bases will be the rescue of the historical heritage, artistic excellence, and the stimulus to creation. Different generations of artists, music fans, and general audience will participate in an extensive programme which finds its roots in the centennial tradition of a culture which defines Buenos Aires: concerts, special shows, popular milongas, book presentations, round tables, products fair, classes for beginners and for advanced dancers, and the best dancing couples – in the categories “Stage Tango” and “Salon Tango” – from Argentina and from the rest of the world in an unparalleled succession of music, dance, and feeling.

* THE TANGO IS INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY
In December, 2009, tango was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in a decision made by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). Argentina and Uruguay presented tango’s candidacy representing the cities of Buenos Aires and Montevideo because both “share the birth, tradition, and passion for the tango,” according to a statement made by the Argentine Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Hernán Lombardi, Buenos Aires’ Minister of Culture, and Eduardo León Duter, Montevideo’s Director of Cultural Promotion, driving forces of the project, were in charge of presenting the proposal to the committee.

For more information visit: www.tangobuenosaires.gov.ar