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