Argentine Tango National Day marked with cross-cultural performances in Mumbai

Mumbai, 19th December 2025: Tango National Day was celebrated with a vibrant showcase of music, dance and cross-cultural collaboration at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai, on December 17. The event was organised by the Consulate General and Promotion Centre of the Argentine Republic and drew an enthusiastic response from art and dance enthusiasts.

The evening featured performances by Mumbai-based tango schools Abrazo Tango and BTango Conscious, along with Pune-based Tango Deseo. The dancers presented a series of classic Argentine tango choreographies marked by precision, rhythm and expressive movement, highlighting the growing tango community in India. Performers included Kruti Gandhi and Ajinkya Deshpande from Abrazo Tango; Thrity Sethna, Manoj Shah, Sanaya Press and Neelesh Jain from BTango Conscious; and Mitali Chinmulgund and Akshay Bhosle from Tango Deseo.

One of the highlights of the programme was a live musical performance by Argentine saxophonist Gala Soler, who played well-known tango compositions such as Por una Cabeza, La Cumparsita and El Choclo. The evening also featured a Bharatanatyam presentation by Peruvian-Italian dancer Anangha Manjari, which brought together classical Indian dance and South American cultural elements.

A key moment of the celebration was the grand finale, where tango was performed alongside traditional Indian dance, accompanied by live saxophone music. According to the organisers, this marked the first time in India that such a fusion was presented on stage, offering audiences a distinctive blend of artistic traditions.

December 11 is officially observed as Argentine Tango National Day, commemorating the birth anniversaries of two influential figures in tango history—singer Carlos Gardel and composer Julio de Caro. Tango, considered an integral part of Argentina’s cultural identity, was recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in 2009.

Speaking through the performances, the event underscored tango’s evolution from a regional art form to a global cultural language. The celebration also highlighted its increasing popularity in India and its role as a cultural bridge between Argentina and India.

Gala Soler, who has been based in India since 2012, has performed at several cultural festivals and events across the country. Anangha Manjari, trained in ballet, contemporary dance and Bharatanatyam, is a disciple of Guru Dr Janaki Rangarajan. At NGMA, she presented “Pushpanjali”, a fusion piece combining Sanskrit and Quechua, the ancient language of South America. The composition, created by Nandini Anand with choreography by Dr Janaki Rangarajan, explored the symbolic relationship between the Sun and Mother Earth through classical Indian music and movement.

Abrazo Tango, founded in Mumbai, is known for its regular classes and performances across India and abroad. Its instructors, Kruti Gandhi and Ajinkya Deshpande, are Asia Tango Championship finalists and have performed at major cultural platforms. BTango Conscious, active since 2014, focuses on building a tango community through regular milongas and collaborations with international artists. Pune-based Tango Deseo, established in 2016, has played a key role in popularising tango in the region and was the first to organise a Tangothon in India.

The organisers said the celebration aimed to honour tango’s legacy while encouraging cultural exchange through shared artistic experiences.