[Tango-L] piazolla in the milongas

[Deby Novitz]

I have been dancing here since 2000 and living here since 2004.  In the 
milongas I go to they would never play Piazolla nor any of the 
electronic music.  In addition to the ones mentioned there are many many 
other milongas in the barrios such as Saraza, Imagen, Club Rivadavia, 
Sin Rumbo, Los Glorias Argentinas, Sunderland, that would never ever 
play alternative or Piazolla.  These milongas are drawing people of all 
ages.

If your world is Villa Malcom, Practica X, and so on, then yes you are 
going to hear that music.  Those milonga/practicas are mostly frequented 
by foreigners and young people looking for something other than the 
traditional boliche.  I know many young people who go to those places 
who don't dance and don't want to learn.  Those milongas are cheaper and 
"mas tranquila." in the words of one of my young friends.

Yes there are two new alternative milongas.  Most of them do not last.  
The ones that have are the same 5 that have been around for the last 6 
or so years.  If that is what you like, hey, enjoy, but don't kid 
yourself that tango here in Buenos Aires is becoming open embrace with 
the same repetitive step because it is not.    BTW, 3 new traditional 
milongas opened last week - 2 at Maipu and  new organizers at Leonesa on 
Wednesday.

The old guys do pop up in the alternative milongas.  Do you want to know 
what they call it?  "Fishing" or worse "Shopping."  Not all but a great 
percentage of them.  They might go to dance, but with other intentions 
well honed over years in the "traditional" milongas.

I am always amazed at this attitude held by foreigners who want to dance 
alternatively about Argentine tango danced here.  It is like they have 
to win a war and are going to try and prove it anyway they can.  There 
is no contest.  120 milongas that are traditional and around 10 that are 
not. There is an attitude in general that it is the foreigners who are 
going to shape what is danced here.  Whether it is here when they come 
here to dance or in their own countries. Tango is part of the Argentine 
heritage not something invented for tourists to spend money on.  Why 
cannot people just enjoy the dance for what it is?