Doors opened at 1730hrs on Friday 05 June 2015. For the second time in London the day of the UK Tango Festival and Dance World Cup Championship Preliminaries had arrived.

First the Festival Team of sound, lighting, film, scene setters and backstage crew, writers, recorders, therapists and festival stalls.

Then the contestants, short of breath, quick to smile, lipstick and polish. Time to register, feel the floorboards beneath, pin numbers on suits and dance… one last time, with just a quiet whisper of reassurance for each other…

And finally the audience of friends, family, peers, teachers, mentors and curious onlookers. All and sundry gathered together.

The little theatre inside Conway Hall was set. Without further ado, Elizabeth Knock introduced the Judges; Fernando Galera & Silvina Vals, Demian Garcia & Fatima Vitale and Facundo de la Cruz & Paola Sanz, and officially opened the festival competition.

SALON CATEGORY

The results of the Salon Tango Competition, in no particular order:

ROUND 1

The songs given to contestants to dance, in ronda, were El Tabano (Pugliese), Solo Compasion (Dagostino/Angel Vargas) and Viejo Smoking (D’Arienzo/Armando Laborde).

261 – Peter Mc Auley and Paula Mc Auley – Northern Ireland
262 – Rosa Lorena de Miranda Serra and Jory Raimo Boelhouwers – Netherlands
263 – Joao Carlos David and Mirella van der Linden – Netherlands
264 – Charnay Mathieu and Julie Debrincat – France
265 – Morfudd Harrad and Graham Harrad – England
266 – Katarzyna Ptak and Xavier Bufkens – Belgium

ROUND 2

The songs given to contestants to dance, in ronda, were Sozello (Ricardo Malerba), Ventarron (Orchestra Tipica Victor) and Total pa que Sirvo (Annibal Troilo/Fiorentino).

267 – Xiao-Pei Chu and Alfie Talman – England
268 – Piotr Wozniak and Ida Zagrzejewska – Poland
269 – Matteo Manferdini and Kat Gorna – England
270 – Mimi and Nikita – Germany
271 – Sophia Rodriguez and Jesus Rodriguez – Switzerland
272 – Andy Ong and Marika Maekelae – England

NOTE: Couples, Boillot Nolwenn and Ouchrih Yannis from France and Magdalena Gintrowska and John Leo from Ireland did not compete.

GOING THROUGH!

The officials counted the Judges scores and declared the following couples go through to dance in the second round:

262 – Rosa Lorena de Miranda Serra and Jory Raimo Boelhouwers – Netherlands
263 – Joao Carlos David and Mirella van der Linden – Netherlands
264 – Charnay Mathieu and Julie Debrincat – France
268 – Piotr Wozniak and Ida Zagrzejewska – Poland
269 – Matteo Manferdini and Kat Gorna – England
270 – Mimi and Nikita – Germany
271 – Sophia Rodriguez and Jesus Rodriguez – Switzerland
272 – Andy Ong and Marika Maekelae – England

STAGE CATEGORY

The results of the Stage Tango Competition, in no particular order:

ROUND 1

Each couple danced to a set piece of their choosing:

001 – Peter Mc Auley and Paula Mc Auley – Northern Ireland – Song: Este es el rey (D’Arienzo)
002 – Rosa Lorena de Miranda Serra and Jory Raimo Boelhouwers – Netherlands – Song: El Hurracan (Los Reyes del tango)
003 – Joao Carlos David and Mirella van der Linden – Netherlands – Song: A los Amigos (Forever Tango)

NOTE: Following Round 1, Peter Mc Auley and Paula Mc Auley, Couple 001, have withdrawn from the competition.

GOING THROUGH!

Due the limited number of competing couples, no announcement was made and the Judges score taken forward to the final, to be held on Sunday 07 June.

Following the competition, it was time to relax, congratulate friends and dance to the masterful tunes played out by DJ Nicolas Wan Park.

Throughout the evening the milonga paused for a very special performance from competition judges, Fernando Galera & Silvina Vals. Significantly, Fernando joined the panel of judges many years ago at the very first Championship. Now, some 20 years later, partnering with renowned dancer, Silvina Vals, the festival received, to the rhythm of floor thumping applaud and cheers from crowd, not 3, but 4 particularly inspiring demonstrations of Argentine Tango at its best.

Chatting with Fernando and Silvina earlier in the evening we asked ‘What do you hope to bring to tango?’. The passionate and earnest response was to this end; ‘We are inspired by the Maestros of yesteryear and aim to bring it to the new generations of tango coming through.

On that note, let the UK Tango Festival continue!

PHOTOGRAPHY:

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