Tango was born in the ghetto, now it is danced by some highly educated people around the world. My point is that things evolve, for better or worse. You can’t always say that because old milongueros did it this way, and it has to be this way. Like the milonguero way is the only way. How tango was danced in the 20s was different than how it was danced in the 30s, 40s. How tango is danced now is different than how it was done in the 90s. Tango evolves… so do the dancers. Just because so and so had said so, doesn’t mean it is a golden rule.

I agree with you; if there is no one with whom I want to dance, I prefer to sit and listen to the music.

Alcohol and drugs have been present in the milongas of Buenos Aires for decades. Foreigners aren’t being expected to participate in that lifestyle when they visit BsAs. What others do is their business.

No, there is nothing wrong with going to a dance school unless one isn’t getting good instruction. The milongueros learned in the street. Tango is a street dance because that’s where it was developed. Technique wasn’t part of the milongueros’ curriculum, but it has become the most important thing because many young dancers who teach were trained in schools. That keeps one studying for years. Ricardo Vidort said that eight classes were enough for any of his students. After that, it’s up to them to practice and develop their own style.

I’ll have to ask Pedro Sanchez what he thinks of Javier and Andrea. I know he will give me his honest opinion.

Milonguero is a lifestyle, yet not all is good and healthy. Booze, sex, drugs were/are part of it. It is not necessary ideal for others to accept that. In modern society, in this culture, we pay to learn (I think some of the milongueros are the beneficiaries of it). If we are shrewd, we are selective about which school to attend, what kind of education we are paying for. There is nothing wrong about going to a dance school to learn dance. Where else does one learn?

I’d met some milongueros. I had some fun time with Pedro, whom I am looking forward to seeing again. I am sure that there are some good milongueras who will be happy to see me and dance with me after two years. In term of lessons, my main purpose of the trip is to work with Javier and Andrea again, who are both respected among old milongueros. But thanks for the offer.

Tango is a pasttime for many who dance today. They enjoy it and don’t have the need to reach greatness in something they dance to express and not applause. There are those who are obsessed with studying, excelling, impressing, performing, and reaching the top to satisfy their egos or desire to achieve. It’s not for everyone.

Those who practice hours each day and hire coaches are dancing tango for the sake of performance and earning a living at it. They don’t go to the milongas to dance with a variety of partners. The average dancer doesn’t have time to dedicate his life to tango.

Milonguero is a lifestyle and doesn’t apply to all the old dancers in Buenos Aires. If you read a few posts on my blog, you will understand. A milonguero is basically self-taught with an individual style. Learning to dance with his mother at the age of 12 isn’t the same as going to a dance school where one has to pay a professional to learn.

If you would like to meet a milonguero and/or take a private class, email me when you are in Buenos Aires. I’ll be glad to introduce you to men who have a life in tango.

In general I think it is safe to say that the milongueros worked (note the past tense) very hard to achieve their great skills, which have since become second nature through a life in the milongas.