Last Saturday Argentine Ambassador Gustavo Pandiani opened the doors of the Embassy for the launching of the Barbados Argentina Tango Club (BATC), an innovative cultural initiative which seeks to bring the Tango experience to the Caribbean shores. More than 100 dancers and enthusiasts crowded the diplomatic facilities for a wholesome night of entertainment.
The first hour of the event was dedicated to the beginners of the discipline. Two couples of instructors showcased the basic movements to those who were unfamiliar with the traditional South American dance. The more advanced dancers, such as the Minister of Youth, Adrian Forde, choreographer Eronica Burgess, and NCF’s Dance Officer, Alicia Payne, graced the floor with their well-crafted technique.
The venue, decorated with the artwork of 26 local painters and sculptors, soon became a hive of laughter and camaraderie accompanied by the sounds of famous Tango performers such as Carlos Gardel and Astor Piazzola.
Among those who were bold enough to Tango, there were diplomats, business moguls, members of Parliament, journalists, and representatives of the local cultural scene. The new CEO of the National Cultural Foundation, Carol Roberts, former Foreign Minister, Maxine McClean, Senator Chrystal Drakes, and new Ambassador of Barbados to Brazil, Tonika Sealy Thompson, were delighted when Ambassador Pandiani took to the floor with 91-year-old Dame Maizie Barker-Welch, who recalled her travels to Argentina in the 1990s as President of the Inter-American Commission of Women.
Ambassador Pandiani expressed his gratitude to the “founding members of the Barbados Argentina Tango Club”, and explained that in 2019 the BATC “will be itinerant, to be hosted at different venues all over the island”. (PR)
Dancers tackling the Tango at the launch of the Barbados´ Argentina Tango Club. (GP)
