After careful consideration, it is with great regret that we have decided to postpone the Oceania Tango Congress & Championship (OTCC), which was scheduled to be held from 19th – 22nd March 2020.
Our decision is a direct consequence of the recent outbreak of the Corona virus in China and its spread throughout the world. The head office of the World Tango Championship in Buenos Aires has acknowledged the risks and supports our postponement decision.
The Shanghai & Beijing tango festival events, which were to have workshops and performances by our judges Clarisa & Jonathan on their way to Auckland, had also been cancelled because of the virus outbreak.
Having regard to the significant Asian participation in our event as competitors, DJs and Judges, as well as considering the very close-embrace nature of our dance, it is obviously the responsible decision to postpone our event to a later date when containment of the virus has been achieved and there are no longer the present potential health risks for participants nor the risks of reduced participation in the event. Already travel arrangements for some registrants have been cancelled to comply with restrictions imposed by the Chinese Government.
Our plan is to set new dates for the OTCC event in due course, but in the meantime, we will be refunding in full all paid registrations for competitions, workshops, milongas and spectator entry. This process will begin immediately.
The postponement is of course of great disappointment not just for me as organiser but for the helpers and the participants in the event. We feel that it is better to be safe than sorry! On a more positive note, we are prepared and ready to go forward at any time in the future once the position regarding this health hazard has been resolved.
Kind regards
Cecilia Bale
Oceania Tango Congress & Championship
Event Director
26 January, 2020
