TriANGulO Carina Moeller's studio for Argentine Tango			135 West 20th St, #301 (btwn 6th & 7th Aves) New York City, NY, 10011 (212) 633-6445 map
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Tango Terms

What is a Milonga?

Imagine a dark room filled with a restrained and elegant assortment of the Addams Family's Soho-based relations. Some are seated, conferring softly with one another; others stand, stalk, glance about for openings; most are in each others' arms looking distant and intense, at once lost and highly alert. Apparently telepathically they are moving in synchrony. All the couples on the floor create sweeping fractal patterns to otherworldly music - sometimes mournful, sometimes bright.

For the tango novice, milongas can be intimidating (or funny). But for the accomplished dancer in particular, the milonga scene is rich and interesting, perhaps the most diverse one available in New York. In one single social gathering you will find a mixture of twentysomethings, family-types, and retirees, spanning the gamut of careers and nationalities, all having a great time together. The milonga crowd tends to be made up of intelligent, creative, and highly independent-minded individuals of all ages, from all walks of life.

Beginners: patience, patience, patience. Everyone is eager to include you but it is a process to become comfortably assimilated into any milonga scene. Since everyone has favorite or regular partners, you may not dance very much the first few times you go until you become a more familiar face. It's best to go to your first milongas with a friend who can introduce you to suitable partners. But even if you don't dance, a milonga is really something just to watch, listen to, and experience. Enjoy it.

What is a Práctica?

These are the cheapest and friendliest of dancing venues, frequented by dancers of all levels from the very beginning to the quite advanced. Prácticas as they are most commonly called in Buenos Aires are as the name suggests an opportunity to practice elements of the dance you have learned in classes. Compared to milongas, prácticas tend not to be too crowded allowing plenty of room for play. In fact, experimentation is heartily encouraged and some DJs play nontraditional music to promote this. Usually prácticas are hosted or led by a master teacher who will be happy to give you tips and advice (and maybe a dance or two) but only if you ask them! Casual or rehearsal dress is most appropriate for a práctica. Don't count on there being much in the way of food or refreshments - people are really at a práctica to dance, not to party.