Has Tango Mundial been over all positive for spread of tango Internationally

NYC mostly don’t care much about it (otherwise Marcos & Florencia would be way more popular since they’ve been consistent finalists).
The west coast of US cares a lot more actually, since they’ve hosted the national competitions and I constantly hear west coast tango dancers talk about the mundial.
Talk only among those wishing to compete and when it is closer to qualifying event.

Otherwise it doesn’t affect the local community and dancing. Only a very small subset of ambitious or curious will devote time to practice for the qualifiers. Some do it for an experience or as a way to get better, than desire to win. Motivations differ.

Not really sure that west coast cares either. I hear more talk about mundial online than at the milongas. Can’t remember last time anyone bringing it up at a milonga.
 
Talk only among those wishing to compete and when it is closer to qualifying event.

Otherwise it doesn’t affect the local community and dancing. Only a very small subset of ambitious or curious will devote time to practice for the qualifiers. Some do it for an experience or as a way to get better, than desire to win. Motivations differ.

Not really sure that west coast cares either. I hear more talk about mundial online than at the milongas. Can’t remember last time anyone bringing it up at a milonga.
I won't claim it is a huge effect, but there are more positive spinoffs than just the individual dancer. It does benefit the local community (not huge, but some).
  • It's not just the person competing. I know 2 who have competed (Jack and Jill and over 55 pro-am), and there were at least 2 more from studios I patronize but didn't know. They hired instructors for privates -- this supports the studio and instructor. People go (myself included) to watch their friends compete. It's not a huge effect, but I estimate studios local to the Southern California Tango Competition (SCTC) get $10k to $20k more business.
  • The West Coast of the USA has two mundial qualifier events, one in the greater Los Angeles metro area, and one it the San Francisco area. I have attended the SCTC one twice. There were many local people there (including the Left Foot Right Foot guys).
  • You get a bit different of a crowd, in my perception. There were people who looked like athletes. People watching the competition part of the day (followed by marathon milonga) were really enjoying it, not just tolerating it. I was surprised how much I enjoyed watching the Jack and Jill and over 55 pro-am; of course, the finals were packed with spectators and truly amazing (including a dude in a wheelchair, he was amazing).
  • My perception is more teachers attended than at other events.
  • My perception is lots of people danced with lots of people, and this was better than other large festivals. For the record, I have not been to many large festivals, and I did meet someone who disagreed with me on that.
  • Next time around, I plan to note who wins Jack and Jill and pro-am, and see if I can get a dance. Then I can brag I danced with a contest winner!
  • People don't talk much about the mundial, but they do talk about the local SCTC. It's the usual buzz for a festival, like "Are you going to the Los Angeles Tango Marathon?"
  • An LA tanguera is excited for the San Francisco qualifier event, and has booked well in advance. If I go it'll be fun to note how many I recognize.
 
The West Coast of the USA has two mundial qualifier events, one in the greater Los Angeles metro area, and one it the San Francisco area. I have attended the SCTC one twice. T
I think there used to be one on the East Coast many years ago. But that disappeared. Never been to a mundial or SCTC or any other. Usually, the first time I hear about these things is after they have taken place. Then again, I don't think I'd travel to LA for a competition.
 
I think there used to be one on the East Coast many years ago. But that disappeared. Never been to a mundial or SCTC or any other. Usually, the first time I hear about these things is after they have taken place. Then again, I don't think I'd travel to LA for a competition.
There was a small nyc one a few years ago but only 4 couples competed since people care a lot less about competition here than the west coast.
 
There was a small nyc one a few years ago but only 4 couples competed since people care a lot less about competition here than the west coast.
I didn't see info on it with a quick search. Was it just once? Southern California Tango Competition started with around four couples, or maybe it was 8 people (IIRC from a web site a year or two ago that I can't find now). Maybe it just needed time to mature to a larger event.
 
..know 2 who have competed (Jack and Jill and over 55 pro-am), and there were at least 2 more from studios I patronize but didn't know. They hired instructors for privates...
I'm not sure, but it doesn't sound like this event has been accredited by the Mundiale in BsAs?
 
with three winning couples per category. The Senior category only had three couples in it ...
Which reminds me...
When we started dancing AT Vincent & Flavia were well-known for AT on Strictly and were 'World Champions' - but of what?

For a bit of history, see Ms Hedghog's excellent internet research on this here. An interesting reference to a 2006 Tango World Championship or Mundial de Tango at Negracha in London, also a 2005 European Championship Tango Argentino in Seefeld, Austria (ever been there? Nice hotels!).

I'm not casting any doubt on their stage tango abilities to entertain, but I also see merit for your employability in winning some competition. Nevertheless, I see little impact (perhaps fortunately) on social AT.
 
Such competitions are not recognized or accredited by the BsAs Campeonato. The WDC has sub-organizations that host tango world championships.
It all depends whether or not such accreditation has any significance to anyone.

Obviously it can mean something if there's 'buy-in' from those concerned.
 
I also see merit for your employability in winning some competition
Back in the days when I used to do some wedding photography alongside my writing, I very quickly discovered that every other wedding photographer on the planet seemed to be an "award-winning photographer." What became apparent was that nobody ever specified which award they had won. I duly entered some very minor competitions, won awards, and was able to add the same phrase to my own website.
 
I'm not sure, but it doesn't sound like this event has been accredited by the Mundiale in BsAs?
I did a little online research. This is not disagreeing but hopefully clarifying. Here are the rules and a wiki page:
https://tangoba.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-WORLD-DANCE-CHAMPIONSHIP-RULES-AND-REGULATIONS-ENG.pdf
World tango dance tournament - Wikipedia

I didn't see anything on pre-competition events being accredited (however, there is language on the competitors themselves being accredited as part of being accepted, including video in some cases). There is a special class of pre-competition, however, where the winners skip the beginning rounds and go straight to final rounds in the Mundial. From the wiki page:

The World Cup competition is the final leg of a series of pre-competitions held around the world starting from March. Traditionally the city of Buenos Aires and various municipalities choose their own "Municipal" champions who get wildcards into the final rounds. The same wildcard advantage is also given to national or regional champions of recognized competitions; These include Uruguay (UY), Chile (Cali, CL), Colombia (Bogota, CO), Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, BR), USA (San Francisco, US), Russia (Moscow, RU), China (Nanjing, CN), Japan (Tokyo, JP), Korea (Seoul, KR), France (Paris, FR), United Kingdom (London, UK), EU (Campeonato Europeo, Italy).

New municipalities in 2016: Turkey and the region (Istanbul, TR).

So my understanding is for anything that is not the San Francisco event in the USA, applicants need to be accredited (might need video), enter at a lower level, and have to do more rounds to win.
 
I didn't see info on it with a quick search. Was it just once? Southern California Tango Competition started with around four couples, or maybe it was 8 people (IIRC from a web site a year or two ago that I can't find now). Maybe it just needed time to mature to a larger event.
Yup just once, might’ve been 2021 or 2022. The 4 couples were all intermediate level. Doubt it would’ve matured to larger event since barely anyone cared for it
 

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