It’s back. One of the most anticipated international events for lovers of Argentine tango and tango culture, traditionally held in the heart of August in Sicily. Cosmopolitan, spectacular, full of excellence, The Catania Tango Festival – winner of the 2019 Buenos Aires Tango Oscars – opens its 22nd edition today: until Sunday, thousands of tango dancers from all over the world will converge at the amphitheater “Le Ciminiere”, now a historic space of the city, to dance passionate “tandas” and watch the performances of the most celebrated masters. Also for this edition, organized with love by the cultural association “Caminito Tango” with the logistical support of the Catania Academy “Proyecto-Tango” and sponsored by the Municipality of Catania and the Metropolitan City of Catania, Sicily and Catania will be protagonists on the world scene.
Guests are expected from over 25 countries, as well as from all over Italyattracted by the beauty of the place, between nature and history, by the “hugs” promised on the dance floor, by the amazing cast of the event. As always, the best tango dancers in the world will perform for the guest tangueros. Among the old acquaintances are some regulars of the Festival, such as Joe Corbata and Lucila Cionci, Neri Piliu and Yanina Quiñones, Carlos Estigarribia and Gisela Natoli, while for the first time the 2022 world champions of tango escenario Ricardo Astrada and Constanza Vieyto will participate. As always, the cast is closed by the resident Masters of the «Proyecto Tango» Academy Angelo Grasso – dean of Sicilian tango, creator and artistic director of the festival – and Donatella Grasso, who every year introduce hundreds of new enthusiasts to the culture of tango.
There will be no shortage of live music, particularly loved by tango dancers, with the Ensemble Hyperion, exclusive guest on the evening of Ferragosto, while throughout the days and evenings (the afternoon milongas are always eagerly awaited and loved) the most famous and beloved musicalizadores of the contemporary scene will take turns at the console, as well as the best exponents of the “Sicilian school”: Gabriel Sodini and Supersabino, the Catanese Michele Maccarrone (“Oscar del tango” 2019 for photography, he will also take care of the photographic reportage of the event), Pietro Cosimano, Matteo Alecci, Massimo Adorno, Nicoletta Vitale, Massimo Sicali, Maurizio Gambero.
A tradition that continues and is enriched, as the artistic director Angelo Grasso underlined: «For 22 years we have tried to translate and shift the strength of tango from the past to a possible and tangible future, keeping its evocative and communicative power intact. And, therefore, also this year we want only “Tango” to be the protagonist. Its culture, its tradition, its philosophy, its history… Let’s organize ourselves to witness unique moments that will unite Catania with a thin thread to Buenos Aires every day. Let’s prepare to welcome guests who will arrive from the five continents and to celebrate with them two intangible heritages of humanity (Sicilian Baroque and Argentine Tango) that for six days will find themselves inextricably united in one great embrace». Worlds that embrace: this is the ultimate, and magnificent, meaning of tango.