I wonder about one thing.. I have been reading different posts and everyone talks about how milongas are in BsAs and how the non-Argentines should prepare this or that way, or about what to expect, or misconceptions and misperceptions etc... I find all of this actually very interesting, on one hand I can see how some of it can be very very useful, on the other hand, I have not been to BsAs yet, hopefully next year, but I cannot help but think, perception is a weird thing, and no matter what I read, I am sure what I experience will be quite different than what I expect.
Having said that I am curious about one thing... What do milongueros who experienced milongas abroad think about those milongas? What would an argentine milonguera think about a milonga in NY or Montreal? How is it different? Do they like them? Are there things that these milongas abroad have innovated that they find novel, interesting, nice?
I wonder... I know that for many milongueros or tangueros (aside from those who are teaching across the world) travelling abroad is very expensive and I am sure not many of them can afford that. I wonder about those who have experienced it, what do they think???
It is true that the experiences you read about, belong to those who write about them... and when you finally get down there, your experience will be individually yours. And I can't wait to read about it when it happens! :-)
ReplyDeleteHola Danzarin!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't think truly social dancers (older, "true" milongueros/milongueras...) from BsAs would even care to attend a milonga outside of their city.
When I went to BsAs (my first trip) last April, I was left with the undeniable impression of how truly ingrained tango is in Argentine culture. It's part of their culture and society, history and heritage, and their daily/weekly routine.
At milongas there the social aspect/quality is just as prevalent/important as the tango itself. The locals are there to see their friends, hang out, socialize, chat, eat a late snack, have a glass of vino tinto and dance tango.
In the U.S., most milongas are all about the dance - not much eating - not much drinking - in fact, most milonga venues don't even offer this. The social aspect is secondary.
Anyway, that's my two cents...that's what I was left with from my trip there.
Everyone needs to go to BsAs at least once...it puts everything about tango in perspective.