Japanese couple swirls to top honors in Argentina’s World Tango competition

Japanese couple wins World Tango competition

BUENOS AIRES — A Japanese couple outdanced the Argentines and more to win the traditional salon category at the Tango Dance World Championship.

The competition wrapped up Monday night with the finals of “stage” tango, a less traditional form that combines classic tango moves with elements of ballet and even acrobatics.

Hiroshi Yamao and Kyoko Yamao figured they would simply enjoy themselves in the salon contest, but the married couple swooped away with the trophy in the most traditional of Argentine tangos. The rules dictate, for example, that couple must not separate while the music plays, and must move constantly counterclockwise.

“We came here to dance and enjoy ourselves, without thinking we would win or achieve anything big,” said Hiroshi Yamao, 36, after Saturday night’s final, where they earned a 15,000 peso prize (about $3,800). “We would like to express our thanks for the huge support we’ve received from everyone here.”

Edwin Leon Medellin and Jennifer Arango Agudelo of Colombia were second, and Jorge Marino and Sara Parnigoni of Argentina finished third.

In “stage” tango, an Argentine couple, Jonathan Spitel and Betsabet Flowers, regained some glory for the dance’s homeland, beating 20 other pairs at the covered stage in Luna Park. Cristian David Correa and Manuela Rossi of Argentina finished second, and Cristian Andres Lopez of Argentina and his Japanese partner, Nao Tsutsumishita, came in third.

Tango emerged as a dance style in the late 1800s in the suburbs of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, Uruguay, and slowly became popular in Europe, the United States and Japan.

On the Net:

Tango Dance World Championship: www.mundialdetango.gob.ar/home09/web/es/index.html