[Tango-L] Campeonato de Baile de Tango -- history of the competition

[Janis Kenyon]

The first city competition was held outdoors in a park (March 9, 2002) and
the finalists received 600 pesos.  Participants included Amanda Lucero,
Ricardo Vidort, Juan Topalian, Lito and Lidia Filipini, Blas Catrenau and
Graciela Lopez (the last two placed second).  The first world competition
scheduled for July 2002 was never held.

No city competition was held in 2003, but the First Campeonato Mundial de
Baile de Tango was held during the V Festival Buenos Aires Tango.
Champions in Tango de Salon were Enrique Usales and Gabriela Sanguinetti;
Tango for stage: Gaspar Gody and Gisela Galeassi.  Each couple received
$3,500 pesos.

II Campeonato Metropolitano de Tango Salon took place during the VI Festival
Buenos Aires Tango (28 Feb to 7 March 2004).  Qualifying rounds were held in
the milongas during January and February.  Finalists were Lito and Lidia
Filipini (first), Osvaldo and Coca Catery (second).  The prize was $1,000
pesos and the top three finalists went directly to the finals of the II
Campeonato Mundial de Tango held in August 21-22, 2004.  The winners in
salon tango were Osvaldo and Coca Cartery; stage tango: Ivan Romero and
Marcela Vespasiano.  Each couple received $3,000 pesos. The venue was Obras
Sanatarias in Nunez.

III Campeonato Metropolitano de Tango Salon had a prize of $3,000 pesos,
which brought more to the competition.  Pedro and Graciela Vujovich won the
finals held in El Dorrego.  They went directly to the finals of the III
Campeonato Mundial de Baile de Tango at La Rural in 2005.  The Vujoviches
placed second in salon tango after Sebastian Andres Achaval and Maria Ximena
Gallichio.  The prize was $5,000 pesos.

IV Campeonato Metropolitano de Baile de Tango (note the change of title)
offered a prize of $3,000 pesos in the tango category and $2,000 in the
milonga category.  The top three places in tango go directly to the finals
of the IV Campeonato Mundial de Baile de Tango in the tango salon category
on August 26, 2006 where the top prize is $5,000 pesos.  The finals of salon
tango and stage tango (August 27) will be held in La Rural with an audience
of 4,000+.