[Tango-L] Milonga

[Keith Elshaw]

It WAS given to us by the gods to bless our souls with joy and happiness.

But, it seems to me, the essence of milonga is not immediately devined by
the new lover of tango. Milonga is like tango itself; also like what an
interesting woman may do to an ardent gentleman admirer: kind of retreat
behind a veil while the pilgrim makes his journey to a sufficient level of
understanding that the veil may be safely let down for admittance.

My personal intuition is that there is kind of a path a good many people
follow in getting all the way to "getting" tango. We fall in love with the
tango dance; we eventually discover the joys of vals; after that, the
milonga is more accessible.

But, few there seem to be in the lands outside of Argentina who have a
feel for milonga.

The reason for this could be that, being in 2/4, it has the feeling of
being "fast." Dancers who start to enjoy it and sense the fun tend to
"run." Many orchestras have recorded milonga at a tempo pushing the limit
because that's what one does for shows.

So, many will use milonga to kind-of show-off. Even before they have the
skills to do so. In North America, one sees many men just running and
pushing and flailing around - not providing much enjoyment for the
followers who have to run to keep up. Those men are having fun, which is
good. But, the milonga veil is still up for them - or they would not be
that way.

I can only speak of personal experience and that may not be worth much.
But for whatever it's worth, I offer that milonga reveals its true nature
when danced slowly.

Those who attend my milongas or dance milonga with me know that I favour
the slow and moderate-tempo milongas first of all. Canaro (the Master);
Donato (a Genius); and of course moving up the tempo scale to Di Sarli,
D'Arienzo and Troilo (Genius Masters as well).

The veil has been lifted when one enjoys the SLOW milongas (if I may say).

Milonga danced well is very subtle. No wild movements. No running. I
always teach that - though it is very exciting music - the dancer should
be very calm and peaceful inside to dance it well. Purposefully put the
excitement meter on low. Slow the beating heart. Then everything opens up.

When I met with and interviewed maestro Roberto Alvarez of Color Tango, I
told him that to use his milongas when I dj, I slowed them down (without
changing the pitch) 3 B.P.M. so that they are danceable. (He did not take
offense).

You have to breathe when dancing milonga. You can't breathe properly if
your are running.

I recognize that fast milongas bring a lot of joy to many, many dancers. I
play them. But, I work my way up to them. Starting off a milonga tanda
with a really fast milonga doesn't make sense to me, musically. Start with
a slow one; go up in tempo; finish with a fast one. This is my way, at
least.

If the reader is not a milonga fan at this time, please know that your
tango will be much more satisfying to you when you have become a milonga
dancer whom others enjoy dancing it with.

To be a really good tango dancer, it seems one must have a beautiful vals
and a beautiful milonga in them as well. Then, you can dance tango.

All good tango dancers know it.

With kind regards,

Keith

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