How quilts are made


Where to Dance Tango in Buenos Aires

From the very beginning, Buenos Airesin the middle of the dance session -
and the tango have been inseparable.check with the show's organizers
It was in the brothels of thisbeforehand. Most of the same dance
burgeoning South American port cityhalls will also offer classes, normally
that, around the turn of the century,in the early evening hours before the
Italian immigrant laborers first"milonga" begins.
invented the dance. By the 1920s andContact information for these and other
30s, with these brothel beginnings"milongas" can be found on the official
largely relegated to the past, tangoGovernment of Buenos Aires site:
reached its golden age, a time ofFor those who don't yet have the skills
immense popularity for both the danceto take on Buenos Aires' best dancers,
and the music alike. During those yearsor who are looking for a more relaxed or
tango could be heard, in both its sungmore youthful atmosphere, the "practica"
and its orchestral versions, on theor practice session has recently been
radio and in dance halls around thegaining in popularity on the traditional
world.classic "milonga". A variety of these
Tango, of course, remains popular toless formal, even "underground", dance
this day. And Buenos Aires is still thehalls have risen up to the task of
best place in the world to dance theproviding young Argentines and foreign
tango or see it performed on the stage.visitors with a place to dance where
Tango dance halls are called "milongas."they won't be beholden to the constant
Even the uninitiated are welcome at apressures of tango-world snobbery. Some
"milonga" - which is to say that anyoneof these "milongas", like the more
is free to take a class or to watch fromtraditional dance halls, also have
the tables which encircle the danceshows. Amongst these places, you'll
floor. But those with little experiencefind:
should be aware that in the lateTango Cool! (in Club Villa Malcolm)
evening, when the "milonga" is inLa Viruta (in The Centro Cultural
session, you are expected to be a highlyArmenia)
proficient dancer before you shouldCatedral
think about selecting a partner (Ladies,Finally, for tourists and for tourists
don't even think about it! According toonly (most Argentines could scarcely
the tango code, only men may do theafford the ticket price), a number of
asking). Stepping on toes is notplaces in Buenos Aires offer dinner -
appreciated and anyone who does so willshow combinations. The food is mostly
not be asked to dance again.forgettable, and the shows are of the
"Tangueros", as tango dancers are known,Andrew Lloyd Webber variety, with
are not a forgiving lot.flimsily constructed plotlines, a random
"Milongas" don't begin until 10:00 orselection of music, unfunny jokes told
11:00 in the evening and normally willby garrulous MCs, and plenty of
not end before 4:00 or 5:00 am., so makespectacle and special effects - in one
sure you have a siesta the day before.of the shows, a live horse is brought
A list of some of the nicest "classic"onto the stage every night! The dancers
milongas in Buenos Aires includes:are, however, true professionals and,
Bien Pulentaespecially when more than one couple is
La Confiteria Idealdancing together on stage, the spectacle
Salon Canningis truly amazing. For that alone it may
El NiƱo Bienbe worth paying the entry fee. The
All of these are traditional danceprice for these shows is, however,
halls, with marble or hardwood floors,extremely steep, especially by local
chandelier lighting, gilded ceilings andstandards. Expect to pay around one
black jacket waiters - places that arehundred US dollars for dinner and a show
imbued with no small amount of class,- more if inflation continues its
and perhaps an even larger amount ofcurrent course of eroding away the
snobbery. Many of these milongas willsavings that tourists used to see from
offer mini-shows with famous dancers,the devalued peso.
usually at 1:00 or 2:00 am, as a break



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