El Tupungatino (Argentina)

“The milonga is a party”

Milongas are social events. They are not just a place to dance, but rather a place to meet friends, discover new people and socialise. It is not about dancing all night, but rather meeting like-minded people to share our love of music and dancing. So don’t worry too much if you are not dancing – just enjoy the fact that you are surrounded with nice people, listening to beautiful music… and the dancing will come naturally. Even though tango is danced all over the world today, it is still deeply rooted in the Argentine culture. If you want to dance tango, you need to know about this culture: how Argentines live and think, what the tango music means to them, how tango dancing was transmitted from generation to generation. As a dancer, it is important to understand that tango music is a reflection of what was happening in Argentina in the past 100 years. Because tango is so deeply rooted in the Argentine culture, its evolution reflects the different states the Argentine society went through. The milonga’s codigos and floorcraft are definitely worth learning about and using. From the DJ’s desk, it is easy to see how the dancers who do not apply them make the milonga a less friendly (and safe place) to dance in. We all have a role to play in keeping the dance floor’s flow, and in making sure the atmosphere is respectful and friendly. Yes, the past of tango music was great, but the tango of today is important too. We need to keep the tango spirit and tango music alive. Everyone -dancers and DJs – like different types of music, so it’s our role as tangueros/as to keep an open mind and listen to all kind of orchestras… including new ones. There is no “true” tango”! Only an evolution of the music. We as tango dancers or DJs all have a role to play in keeping the tango world growing in a welcoming way. We need to make sure that we are a ‘diffuser’ of the tango culture we love, and not make it a closed, exclusive world that only a select few can understand and enjoy. The milonga has to be inclusive, and not exclusive.