Milonga, 'tango party', is a place or an event where tango is danced; people who frequently go to milongas are sometimes called milongueros. There are endless varieties of milongas available throughout the city every day, with a greater concentration on weekends. Each milonga has its own style, ambient and clientele. Most of them often begin with dancing classes and many have presentations by professional performance dancers. Three to five songs are usually played in a row followed by a short brake when they can change partners.
Same place hosts different quality milongas on different days of the week, so it's a good idea to look at the program (you can get it in tango shoes shops, tango music shops and milongas), before you decide for one. The link below is the most up-to-date list of milongas of Buenos Aires. My favourites were:
La Viruta
It is a preferred place for the younger public where people attend dancing classes before the dance.
www.lavirutatango.com
Armenia 1366
phone number: 011 4774 6357/4779 0030
video 1
video 2
Parakultural
www.parakultural.com.ar
Scalabrini Ortiz 1331, Palermo
phone number: 015 5738 3850
e-mail: omarviola@parakultural.com.ar
video 1
video 2
Dress Code: tango shoes and a nice dress would be fine
Updated Sep 7, 2011
Website: www.buenosairesmilongas.com
Show + History + Tango + Gourmandise…
Through the most original, classic & modern live Tango, Evita Vive! will allow you to learn and experience a large part of Argentinean History and the life of Eva Duarte de Peron in particular: how she became the greatest and most controversial icon in our culture. With more than 14 musicians, dancers and actors this most innovative proposition in Buenos Aires is supported by printed material and documental projections to allow your clients to objectively understand the biography of the most famous woman in Argentina’s history.
Eva Peron, her life, her passion and her influence within our society captivated the widest range of people in Argentina and around the world: From history scholars, politicians, artists, to the common people, ‘those without a voice’.
(This is an 100% original production and not a version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Opera Evita)
Written Aug 23, 2011
Address: Moreno 364
Phone: +54 11 60912092
Website: www.evitavive.com
The term “Milonga” has several meanings:
It is the typical music of the cities that are near the shores of the Rio de La Plata (Argentina and Uruguay). It is the dance that starts up almost spontaneously. It is the place where dancers and amateurs go to in order to dance and feel the tango. Those who are experts and enthusiasts of this dance are called milongueros.
The Milongas are not all the same and there are many to suit all tastes. On the one hand, there are the traditional Milongas, where the clothes, the dancing level and the choice of music occupy an important place, and on the other hand, there are the more laid-back ones, where the milonga prevails as a meeting point. There are Milongas for couples and for singles (both men and women). Some are gay friendly and the queer milonga it is no exception.
The Milonga has its own and strict codes. It is the realm of the relationship between men and women, between two dancers. It is the dance of the proposal, of the invitation and the seduction. It is the total giving of oneself in the three minutes the dance lasts. It is the union and the space between the bodies. It is feeling in the soul the emotion that awakens Buenos Aires.
In the Milonga it is not compulsory to dance and you can remain seated around the dancefloor drinking something. But a Milonga it is not a tangueria where you listen and appreciate a choreographed show. Each day of the week there is a series of Milongas in different places, for any kind of audience. The nature of the Milonga does not depend upon the place, but upon the organizer and its audience.
Updated Aug 1, 2011
Website: http://www.culturacercana.com.ar/eng/index.php/private-tours/feeling-tango-private-tour.html
TANGO-A-TIERRA transita con nuevos ojos, la propuesta artística y estética de la danza popular más extraordinaria del mundo: el Tango.
En el espectáculo se ven los diferentes estilos del tango, se insinúan los lugares que son el marco mitológico de la edad de oro del tango, la milonga y el café, y se repasa el repertorio clásico y ortodoxo pero también la fusión y la "herejía".
El baile, la música y el canto están presentes, ejecutados por jóvenes y talentosos intérpretes. El Tango, que es centenario, se reinventa y ahora es nuestro, de los jóvenes.
TANGO-A-TIERRA pone en escena 17 artistas de jerarquía internacional, músicos en vivo y un despliegue coreográfico espectacular.
Bailarines
Guillermo Salvat / Silvia Grynt
Alejandra Mantiñán / Gabriel Missé / Leandro Gómez / Erika López / Marilú Leopardi / Ramiro Izurieta
Ricardo Astrada / Jorgelina Guzzi /
Cantante
Roberto Minondi
Músicos
Orquesta Alto Tango
Rubén Jurado / Javier Sanchez / Darío Borkoske / Claudio Scheinkman / Héctor Triewaser
Temas musicales
Boedo J.De Caro-Linyera / A Evaristo Carriego E.Rovira / Milongueando en el ’40 A. Pontier
Qué me van a hablar de amor H.Stamponi-H.Expósito / Lo que vendrá A.Piazzolla / Recuerdo O.Pugliese-Moreno A Orlando Goñi A.Gobbi / Tanguera M.Mores / La Cumparsita G.M.Rodríguez/ Re Fa Si E.Delfino / Bajo el cono azul Volpes/ De Angelis / Mala junta Velich-J.De Caro/Laurenz / La Trampera A.Troilo / El flete V.Greco-P.Contursi Café Domínguez A.D'Agostino / Mariposita A.Aieta-F.García Jiménez / No soy un extraño Charly García
Que te importa que te llore O.Maderna-M.Caló / Ojos Negros V.Greco-P.Numa Córdoba
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: Viamonte & San Martin
A cool little Theatre and Bar locater very close to the Abasto Shopping complex. I'm including both as one tip because they are in the same building. Of course going to a huge big-budget theatre production can be fun, but I prefer going to some of the smaller houses, where one can take a look at the stars of the future.
A friend that is acting in a play and her boyfriend the director introduced me to this house. (Paula and Javier). The play is called Mil Cuentos Para una Noche, and I highly recommend anyone in Buenos Aires to check it out. Certainly at 4 pesos, the price is right.
After a performance, stick around for a drink at the Dell Tango Bar for a Quilmes or Coffee. Comer, Escuchar, Aprender, Recordar, Jugar and yet still 98% Portreno... whatever that means.
Dress Code: None
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Phone: 4197-9249
There are many many Tango venues in B.A. Grab a free BA Tango or el tangauta. These are hard to find. They may have one in your hostel or hotel. They are also in Tango shoe stores.
A great web site is http://www.tangodata.com.ar/
You can find info on classes and on dances. A good way to go is to find a dance that gives lessons before the dance begins. Then you may have an opportunity to meet more people as they switch partners during the lesson.
The cultural centers are great way to get good lessons at a very reasonable price. Check out their schedules by using the above.
Carlos Ricciutti is a very enthusiastic teacher at the Recoleta Cultural Center who speaks english. He taught there on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.
Check out my Tango Travel Log for more info and picture on the Tango scene.
Dress Code: I would say in general, look good when you go out in Buenos Aires. The locals are very fashionably dressed. Tango is danced by the young and old, and for the most part they all look good. Coat and Ties are not necessary but blue jeans and sneakers wouldn't look good. Wear shoes that you are comfortable dancing in. Most places don't have a nice wooden floor, so nice street shoes are usually the best.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: There are many venues check out the BA Tango
Well it's Buenos Aires, the world's home to Tango........it's a shame that it has become such a HUGE tourist trap......The price's range from $40 to $55 US dollars per person.....We attend a place called Senor Tango..the price includes pick up from you hotel, dinner followed by a show. The meal is simple and plain, beef, chicken or fish......as they sit you with 10 total strangers in a very uncomfortable table. The food was not very good. Then you are seated on a railing to watch a show, which is very entertaining, but as you are watching the show....the waiters come around asking for there tip....The service very impersonal, and not very good. I gave the waiter the customary 10% tip and the waiter seem offend, He did his best to tell me that wasn't enough in English, but to his great surprise I responded in fluent and PERFECT Spainsh and I told him what I thought how poor his service was and how I felt it was enough......Then, to my ANGER !!!!! I find out that we could have just come and watch the show, and skipped out on the crappy dinner and the cost would have been half.....that was very upsetting, and no one gave me the option when I made the reservation....Would have eaten a far better dinner somewhere else and came and just saw the show and not have to put up with 10 strangers and the bad service my lady and I recieved !!!!!! The Show otherwise was great !!!!!!
Updated Mar 25, 2011
Address: Vieytes 1655, Barracas, Capital Federal
Phone: 4303-0231.
Website: www.senortango.com.ar
We stumbled upon this place quite by accident. We were looking for a good steakhouse and our hotel sent us here. We were surprised to see the lineupoutside ,not realizing we were at the famous landmark tango cafe.
I think it is far too touristy and not at all the kind of place we were looking for....no steak barbeque on the menu either..
It is gorgeous inside though and we were glad we took a peak.
Dress Code: casual
Written Nov 21, 2010
This show suited us perfectly .It is smallenough to be authentic but prosessional and entertaining throughout.
There were three performing couples ,all wonderful as they danced their way through the history of Tango.There were a coupleof sultry singers and musians helping tocreate the mood.
Dinner is included.The stak huge and good. The wine selection is good and reasonable priced.
The cost was 90pesos each including transportaion.
Dress Code: smart casual
Updated Nov 20, 2010
Website: www.Taconeando.com
The milongas are probably your best bet to view "real" tango and my recommendations for some good ones are ...................in addition here is a link for most of the milongas in the city
http://www.buenosairesmilongas.com/
* Las Glorietas, an outdoor milonga held on Saturday afternoons in a gazebo in a park in Belgrano, totally charmed me. It attracted lots of onlookers, and people were even taking pictures, which is usually a no-no at milongas. Nobody seemed to mind. I have heard there are lessons but don't know when they start. The link I posted says it takes place (and offers lessons) Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but check when you get there; I thought it was only Saturday afternoons, but I could be wrong.
* La Catedral is an interesting experience. If you plan to dance, do not wear your new shoes -- the wooden floor is pretty torn up. The venue is unique, to say the least. When I went, there weren't many people dancing, but lots watching (it was Halloween and there were a few performances, so that may have had something to do with it). I believe it's open every night but can't confirm that -- call to check. It's at Sarmiento 4006 in Almagro. Phone: 4342 4794
* Confiteria La Ideal is by far the best venue I saw for people who just want to watch (or even take beginner lessons). It helps that the building in which it's held is gorgeous and dripping with history. They often have live music, and I believe most of the instructors speak English. This not my favorite milonga for dancing, but I would not hesitate to recommend it as the genuine article to someone who would like to see real tango in action.
Updated Mar 24, 2009
Address: see posting for addresses
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The milongas are probably your best bet to view "real" tango and my recommendations for some good ones are ...................in addition here is a link for...
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