What is a milonga in Argentina?
Milonga refers to a musical genre, an Argentine ballroom dance similar to the tango, and a popular event where people dance tangos, vals, or milongas. Discover the characteristics of milonga dancing, and learn about its rich history and the music that inspires it.
What is the difference between milonga and Argentine tango?
Milonga dance is dancing to milonga music. Milonga dance incorporates the same basic elements as Argentine tango but permits a greater relaxation of legs and body. Movement is normally faster, and pauses are less common.
What does milonga mean in English?

South American Spanish, from Brazilian Portuguese milonga, ‘angry or repetitive words, witchcraft’, later referring to a lively dance; probably ultimately from a West African language.
Where can I tango in Buenos Aires?
The Best Spots to Watch Argentine Tango in Buenos Aires
- Astor Piazzolla Theatre. Photo: LongJon/Shutterstock.
- Faena Hotel. Photo: Faena Hotel.
- La Ventana: Barrio de Tango. Photo: La Ventana.
- Café Tortoni. Photo: Petrenko Andriy/Shutterstock.
- Salón Canning.
- La Catedral Club.
- La Viruta Tango Club.
- El Beso: The House of Tango.
What is a tango milonga?
Milonga is an event where Argentine tango is danced. The venue dedicated to milongas may also be called “milonga”. People who frequently go to milongas may be called milongueros. The music played is mainly tango, vals and milonga.

Is milonga a tango?
Why was the tango banned?
When tango first emerged, the church banned it because it was the music of the “immoral” factions of society. It was no longer banned when the coup of 1930 occurred, but there was censorship of lyrics that supported populist ideas and used lunfardo, the slang of the working classes in Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
In which neighborhood of Buenos Aires can tourists see tango dancers?
The city’s oldest barrio or neighborhood, San Telmo, Buenos Aires is a hot spot of sultry tango dancing, colonial architecture and lively street markets. It’s also considered the birthplace of tango; a dance which found its way onto the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2009.
Who sings solo Tango in La Milonga de Buenos Aires?
“La Milonga De Buenos Aires”. Eleonora Kalganova and Michael Nadtochi with “Solo Tango Orquesta”. – YouTube “La Milonga De Buenos Aires”. Eleonora Kalganova and Michael Nadtochi with “Solo Tango Orquesta”.
What happens in a milonga in Argentina?
On any night in Buenos Aires you can find a milonga filled with people sitting around the dance floor, drinking their wine or champagne and watching, and being watched. But not everyone in the milonga is the same.
What is Buenos Aires tango?
Buenos Aires is full of tango. Most tourists visiting the city only ever have access to smallest section, the part the city creates for them. The dancers in La Boca, the tango shows hawked by tour guides and hotel concierges. But Buenos Aires IS tango… there is so much more. And it’s way more complicated than it looks on stage.
When is the best time to go to the tango milonga?
BEST PLACE TO TRY OUT THE TANGO STEPS YOU JUST LEARNED AN HOUR AGO When to go: Any day of the week, but Wednesdays and Saturdays are the most popular. When to arrive: The milonga starts at 11pm. When things get good: Lots of people stay after the class to practice what they have learned.