Argentine dancing partners Diego Ortega and Aldana Silveyra on Monday won the salon category of the World Tango Championship finals.

Dancers from over 50 countries competed for the title as both amateur and professional couples showcased their skills in the two main categories: Tango de Pista (Salon Tango) and Tango Escenario (Stage Tango).

Semifinals featured winning couples from local championships held across Argentina and the globe, who earned direct entry to this advanced stage of the competition. The grand finale for the salon category took place on September 1 at the Gran Rex theater before hundreds of fans.

The competition is the centerpiece of the Tango BA Festival and World Championship, which runs from August 20 to September 2.

Organized by the Buenos Aires Ministry of Culture, the festival includes over 500 activities at more than 50 locations, with over 2,000 artists participating in concerts, dance classes, and milongas.

Tango, a traditional dance with a rich heritage in Argentina and Uruguay, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage. Its popularity has spread globally, with communities of dancers thriving in countries as far as Kazakhstan and Japan.

AP Video by Victor R. Caivano