Swine flu and tango in Buenos Aires

Argentina has been severely affected by swine flu - known as Gripe A in BsAs. I am delighted that I have persuaded one of my regular correspondents in Argentina to write a report on how it is affecting the milongas - and the dancers in Buenos Aires.

Championship tango - to be or not to be

As the weekend of July 11 draws closer most of the chatter at milongas or gatherings of tango friends is about the Tango championship - are you dancing/going, or aren't you? and the community in Sydney seems to be divided - as our poll is showing. (If you haven't voted please do).
And the conversations are buzzing with

• discussions about professional versus amateur

I am wondering how many people have actually read the conditions of entry - and how many of those who are dancing in the salon section have declared themselves as professionals. A conversation I had last night (not at a tango event) with a dancer revealed that there are many Sydneysiders who had entered the salon section who according to the rules would be professionals not amateurs. The rules state that an amateur is :
"Any social tango dancer, who has not derived income from teaching private tango lessons, group tango lessons (including workshops) or has not given paid performances. Please note, if it is later revealed that you have earned an income from dancing or teaching tango, you may be disqualified from the Australian Tango Championship... if one of the dancers in the partnership is a professional, the couple is deemed to be a professional couple."

• the huge cost of entering and where the money is going.

I can attest to the huge cost of previous tango Championships (having been on the organising side) and am amazed at how people need to be reminded that events such as these need to pay for venue hire, artists - fees, daily living costs, accommodation, travel costs - insurance, and advertising. There are many things that can be done by volunteers but there are still costs. One dancer said he had bought a ticket in the raffle but only one because he wasn't sure where the money was going!

• who the other judges are.

This is no secret as it is on the championship website. They are Chris Drogo from Melbourne and Yamila Falcon from Sydney. Not sure how you get a majority vote out of 4 judges but maybe both the Argentinian dancers will not both be judges.

• who will win.

My tips
Salon: - a well known Melbourne couple, one of whom has won before - or two Sydney teachers
Stage: - I had thought that a young Sydney couple who have recently re-established their classes, but I hear they will not be entering...