[Tango-L] La Viruta, Definition of Milonga

[Shahrukh Merchant]

Jan <jb34528 at att.net> says:

> Just a little correction. When you pick up at La Viruta their weekly schedule ( a little handbill ) you would see that there are no milongas at La Viruta. I noticed that first in 2006. Specifically, Friday (Sat in fact) midnight till 5AM is a PRACTICA

I think I remember seeing this on their flyer also. However, on their 
"baile" page on their website 
http://www.lavirutatango.com/baile_practica.html, notwithstanding the 
use of only the words "baile" and "practica" in the page address, says 
(emphasis THEIRS):

"Despues de las clases te podés quedar bailando y disfrutando de *una 
auténtica milonga porteña*.

La *Milonga La Viruta*, convoca a todos los que quieran compartir una 
auténtica noche a puro tango."

Translation: "After the classes, you can stay to dance and enjoy *an 
authentic Buenos Aires milonga*. *Milonga La Viruta" brings together all 
those who wish to share an authentic night of pure tango."

I wouldn't read too much into either one though. The literal definition 
of a milonga is not always as strict in the minds of the organizers of 
these events as it is sometimes made out to be, though certainly people 
differ as to their interpretation of what makes a *good* milonga, and 
consequently attract different clientele.

For the record, I have nothing against La Viruta at all (just the 
navigation there, or lack thereof :-)). I do go there, but it tends to 
be only when I'm going with or joining a group of friends, as for me 
it's more fun in a group mode, and there are other places I enjoy more 
if I'm going alone or with one or two other friends.

Returning to the subject of the definition of "milonga,"

>> As I remember, when I was in BsAs 2 years ago the city council had just 
>> > declared that the 2-1-2-1 pattern was part of what defined a Milonga.

> Tried Googling that law and could not find it.  It would be good to see it 
> in total as it may also then end arguments on what is or is not Argentine 
> tango as defined by the home of tango.  Anyone have an idea?

Hmm, I wouldn't dare to pretend to come up with the definitive answer, 
but I certainly would not trust a bunch of bureaucrats to do so! It's 
the same group that defined a milonga so narrowly that several milongas 
briefly stopped playing the traditional occasional tanda of chacarera or 
rock-and-roll or "tropical" and in some cases even CORTINAS because they 
were afraid the Tango police (and we are talking about real police now) 
would close down the milonga and/or cause them to lose their 
preferential designation as a cultural event.

Shahrukh