The National Tango Day will be celebrated next Friday, December 11 2009, with free presentations in different parts of the city by Buenos Aires Orquesta del Tango and Buenos Aires Symphonic Band, Orquesta Escuela de Tango Emilio Balcarce, and the final of the Hugo del Carril tango contest.

The celebration starts at 1 pm, with a concert by Orquesta del Tango de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires at Paseo Ástor Piazzolla (Av. Roque Sáenz Peña between Cerrito and Libertad). The Orchestra will be conducted by Raúl Garello, Néstor Marconi and Juan Carlos Cuacci, with the special participation of singer Susana Rinaldi and the winners of the contrest Hugo del Carril 2008, singers Verónica Marchetti and Macelo Costa and dance couple Sergio Fernández and Liz Dorin. The repertoire will consist of: "Pa que bailen los muchachos", "Tal vez será su voz", "Dandy", "Uno", "Buen amigo", "Che bandoneón", "La última curda", "Buenos Aires", "Es tu fiesta", "Viva el tango" and "Don Juan". The concert will also include a selection of "candombes".

Later, at 4 pm, the final of the XVII Hugo del Carril Contest 2009 will be held at Amphitheater Eva Perón, in Parque Del Centenario, with the competition for the categories of Singing (male and female), Salon Dancing and Instrumental Groups.

At 7 pm, the Buenos Aires Symphonic Band, in Florida and Santa Fe, will offer a concert of traditional tangos like "El firulete", "Taquito militar", "Gricel", "Verano porteño", "Auténtico Buenos Aires", and "La cumparsita", among others. The band will be conducted by Lito Valle and José Luis Cladera, and the show will be completed with the choreography of dancers Paola Larrondo and Víctor Nieva.

Also at 7 pm, ath the Auditorium of Biblioteca Nacional (Agüero 2502), the Orchestra Escuela de Tango Emilio Balcarce will offer a free show, with direction of Néstor Marconi.

All the shows will be free of charge and the open air events will not be suspended for rain.

The 2010 Dakar will take place in Argentina and Chile from the 1st to the 17th of January, in an amazing course of 9000 km.

In 2010, Argentina and Chile will jointly celebrate the bicentenary of their independence: the Dakar will have the honour of starting these celebrations. After a first experience in South America, the variety of the territories and terrain, the intensity of the challenge taken on by the competitors and the enthusiasm of the crowd have convinced both the authorities of the two countries and the head of the rally to renew the adventure.

During the last thirty years, the race has forged itself a legendary reputation on the African territory that helped it grow and become one of the major events of the international calendar. A first choice sporting competition that mixes great champions and amateurs, the event has become extremely international throughout the years, uniting up to 52 different nationalities.

The Argentine provinces traveled through:

Buenos Aires – Federal Capital

Buenos Aires province

Santa Fe

Córdoba

La Rioja

San Juan

Mendoza 

La Pampa

The triptyque designed for the 2010 Dakar on the territories of Argentina and Chile promises to each kind of driver a sequence adapted to their qualities. The long stay in the Atacama Desert will be the climax of a 9000 kilometers loop through the continent.

Schedule of events: 

December 29th, 30th and 31st 2009: "Dakar Village": Administrative & technical scrutineering in Buenos Aires, at La Rural Exhibition Center. Av. Santa Fe & Av. Sarmiento.
Opening to the public:
December 29th and 30th 2009 from 11:00 to 21:00
December 31st 2009 from 11:00 to 19:00
January 1st 2010 from 11:00 to 17:00
Entry fee: $ 10 Argentine Pesos from 12 to 65 years old

January 1st 2010: Briefing and start podium
Opening to the public:
Pedestrian access: Av. Santa Fe 4201 - Plaza Italia
Access to the Car Park: Av. Cerviño 4476
Public opening free:  from 3 pm to 9 pm
The Podium will be located at the South of the Obelisk, Avenue of 9 de Julio

January 1st 2010 at night : First bivouac in Buenos Aires province

January 2nd to 16th 2010: Dakar Rally in Argentina and Chile

January 9th 2010: Rest day in Antofagasta

January 17th 2010: Podium finish in Buenos Aires

For more information, route maps and news, visit Dakar 2010 Rally official website.

As every year, the shopping malls of Buenos Aires will celebrate the Holidays and New Year's with a show of fireworks and music, this Sunday, December 20th, at 9:30 PM. This free of charge event will take place simultaneously at 6 points in the city:

On Saturday, December 19th 2009, at 8.30 pm, in Plaza República del Uruguay (Figueroa Alcorta and Tagle) the Pulic Television and Radio Nacional invite to a free entrance open air Lyric and Fireworks Festival, with the participation of soprano Paula Almerares, tenor Dario Volonté, and violin player Xavier Inchausti, accompanied by "Orquesta de la Radio Televisión Pública Argentina", conducted by Marcelo Zurlo.

The conciert will include works by Mendelssohn, Puccini, Bartók, Paganini and Bizet, and will be closed by a spectacular fireworks show.

Paula Almerares is a renowned Argentinian soprano. Xavier Inchausti is one of the most prestigious violin players in the world, active student of the Salzburg's Mozarteum. Darío Volonté is an Argentine tenor with an international career. Orquesta de la Radio Televisión Pública Argentina is made up of 50 prestigious Argentine musicians.