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President Obama dances the tango during state visit to Argentina

Just the latest in a long and largely embrrassing series of world leaders dancing

Charlie Atkin
Thursday 24 March 2016 12:27 GMT
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Obama dances the tango

World leaders have a long and reasonably upsetting history when it comes to dancing in public, however President Barack Obama may have just bucked this trend.

During his state visit to the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, Mr Obama was filmed dancing the tango at a dinner hosted by Argentinian President Mauricio Macri.

As Mr Obama cuts a competent course with his partner, the First Lady can be seen faring similarly well on the other side of the dance floor.

History was made last week when Mr Obama became the first US President to visit Cuba since 1928, while his visit to Argentina is the first formal state visit by a leader to the country for nearly 20 years.

Argentina has first-hand experience of the embarrassment that a dancing President can bring. Despite being a country famous for the elegant complex tango, former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner showed off these moves at a campaign rally.

It may be that rallies are where leaders feel they can do anything as they ride the crowd’s affection and support. If not, it’s hard to explain this exhibition from former President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin.

(He really lets loose after 0:42)

President Obama didn’t exactly have big shoes to fill though, after his predecessor George W Bush attempted to join in with a West African dance company at the White House.

The President has never been shy to show off his moves - look no further than this appearance on the Ellen show back in 2007.

The Obamas are will leave Argentina on Thursday night, dancing reputations intact.

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