Euronews: Baku's tango festival — cultural bridge between Azerbaijan, Argentina VIDEO

Euronews has spotlighted Baku's inaugural El Calor en Baku International Tango and Culture Festival, describing the event as an unexpected but successful fusion of Argentine tango and Azerbaijani cultural heritage.

Held over six days, the festival transformed the historic streets of Baku's Icherisheher into a venue for music, dance and cultural exchange, bringing together artists, residents and visitors in what organisers described as a celebration of international dialogue.

In its report, Euronews noted that tango—one of the world's most recognisable dance forms and a symbol of love, passion and emotion—is not typically associated with Azerbaijan, a country better known for its traditional dances, medieval architecture and carpet-weaving heritage.

"At first glance, the two are an unlikely pairing: Tango was born in the port districts of Buenos Aires in the late 19th century, while Baku sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia on the shores of the Caspian Sea," the broadcaster wrote. "However, the two have joined forces after Baku hosted its first-ever international tango festival, El Calor en Baku."

As part of its coverage, Euronews interviewed Eldar Djafarov, founder of the Azerbaijan Dancers' Union, who said Baku's long-standing role as a crossroads between Europe and Asia made it an ideal setting for the event.

"Baku has become a meeting point between Europe and Asia, and we felt it was the right moment to introduce a world-class cultural event that could unite people through art and human connection," Djafarov said.

He stressed that the festival was conceived as more than a dance event. Organisers designed it as a Week of Argentine Culture, combining tango with music, cinema, gastronomy, education and tourism to strengthen cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Argentina.

According to Djafarov, the six-day programme turned the historic streets of Icherisheher into "a living cultural bridge" connecting the two countries through shared artistic experiences and people-to-people engagement.

By Sabina Mammadli