In Buenos Aires, the music played for dancing tango is almost exclusively classic tango music from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. The rare exceptions are more modern recordings of traditional tangos played in the style of the golden age.
Outside Argentina it is rare to find a 'milonga' that follows this format. Most tango DJs play at least some neo-tango (tango fusion) or non-tango music to which dancers do steps associated with tango. If neo-tango/non-tango music makes up a significant portion of the music program, these events are sometimes advertised as 'alternative milongas'. This labeling assists dancers in knowing what to expect with regards to the music played. However, this terminology is not used consistently. Given the tango traditions of Buenos Aires, it is questionable whether it is justifiable to call a dance event a 'milonga' when a significant proportion of music played is neo-tango/non-tango music. In Argentine Tango culture, a milonga has a specific meaning, with regard to the music, and with regard to other customs. For the purpose of cultural validity, one should use tango-related terms accurately. In Buenos Aires, a dance event advertised in El Tangauta or BA Tango that has a significant portion of non-tango music is called a 'baile' instead of a .milonga'. Of course, in Buenos Aires, what is danced to non-tango music is usually swing or cumbia or chacarera, as appropriate for the rhythm of the music. I have been hoping that alternative-to-tango music aficiandos would come up with a term for their dance events that did not use the word 'milonga'. This evening I accidentally came across a web page using the term 'bailonga' for a dance event where the preponderance of music played for doing tango steps is neo-tango/non-tango. I googled the term and came up with another webpage using the term 'bailonga' for a music program of the same type: http://www.tangocenter.org/group/bailonga http://www.demetriusgonzalez.com/tango/bailonga.html For clarity in communication regarding the music played at a dance event, I highly recommend universal adoption of the term 'bailonga' for those where the music program contains a significant proportion of neo-tango/non-tango music intended for doing tango steps. Those who enjoy milongas dancing to the music of classic tango will thank you. Ron _______________________________________________ Tango-L mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
