Milongas

Milonga is a term for a place or an event where tango is danced.

People who frequently go to milongas are sometimes called milongueros.  [Note: The word "milonga" can also refer to a fast, upbeat type of music  or to the particular style of dancing done to this faster music.  Don't worry: the context will let you know which meaning is meant.]

The music played at milongas is mainly tango, tango vals, and milonga. Most milongas are held on a regular basis and they often begin with a tango class and sometimes a demonstration dance. In Helena, we have a monthly milonga on the third Saturday of each month. During the summer we also have outdoor Milongas more frequently. See the Calendar on the left  for upcoming events, and the Fee Schedule for costs.

Usually, three to four songs of a kind are played in a row (this is called a tanda) followed by a short musical break (called a cortina) to clear the dance floor and facilitate partner changes. The songs within a tanda are virtually always all tangos, all waltzes (vals) or all milongas. So if you start dancing to a milonga you can assume that the next couple songs will also be milongas.  During the cortina leaders often escort the followers back to their tables.

The direction of dancing is always in a counter-clockwise circle around the edge of the dance floor.  If there is a enough space and many dancers, there may be two or more "lanes" of traffic all going in the counterclockwise direction.  Learn more (much more) by clicking on any of these information pages:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) about milongas

Floorcraft - The basics of what to do on the dance floor

Floorcraft - How to Navigate Well

Floorcraft - Partner Expectations

Floorcraft - Advanced Navigation  (this link goes to the Tango & Chaos website)

Cabaceo - Using Eye Contact to Find a Dance Partner (this link goes to youtube.com for a 46 sec video)

The Milonga Manual - Information for DJ's, Hosts, general policies, and notes about whom to contact for milonga-related tasks.