Accommodation March 2012:
We stayed 10 days at La Maleva. It is a fabulous four levels house, which is owned and operated by Mariana Dragone of Bs.As. and Mateo of Ouebec Canada. The other staffs Jesus, Elsa and a housekeeping maid were extremely helpful for information, advises and very friendly.
The tango house is located within the neighborhood of Almagro. Almagro is between the neighborhood of Palermo and Recoleta. DNI is only three blocks away. The large local supermarket Coto is only 2.5 blocks away and several other supermarkets near by.
The tango house is equipment with a five burners gas cooktop, gas oven, microwave, two fridges, prep table and dining room for the occupants to share. The ground level has a large dance studio which opens to a tiled courtyard. A big communal balcony with dining table is on the main floor (2nd floor). There is also a large roof terrace equipped with a charcoal BBQ.
Mariana runs classes and practica in the dance studio, once or twice a week (approx 40 peso per class with practica). It is a more local and young crowd.
All occupants can book the studio floor time free of charge for practice and for private lessons.
Taxi rides between La Maleva and
Subway and bus statitions are only few blocks away. Cost 1 peso!!
This tango house is highly recommended.
Tango Classes March 2012:
We only took a few classes during this short trip, because our focus was to attend as many milongas as we could.
Gallaria Pacifico: Tango group class (2 classes) with Alejandro Figliolo and Valeria Inarra at the Escuela Argentina de Tango. Cost 45 peso per person per class. (Less if you purchase group of 8 or 12.) We took lessons from them back in 2007 and 2008.
La Maleva: Tango group class with Aoniken Quiroga and her partner. Mariana was there as support. Cost 40 peso per person.
Villa Malcom: Tango group class with Mariana Dragone and Pablo Inza. Cost 40 peson per person with entry to milonga.
2012 Milonga Notes as recommended by others and attended:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Shopping Notes March 2012:
Notes from Conversation with Tango teachers / dancers in Buenos Aires during our visit in March 2012:
Argentine Tango is for connecting people, not for separating people. Any act or intention to create division and separation should never allow to exist within any milonga.
A wise milongeuro explains that one must leave one’s ego, social status, political and religious views outside the door steps before entering to any milonga. One must dance with open mind to learn from others’ point of views and interpretations.
Tango is never a static process. It has been and will continuously be evolving from its earliest inception - its music, poetries, how it is danced, and fashion attires. The only constant aspect is its purpose to connect people.
A tango professional explains that tango evolves under the influences of its environment and participants.
From the point of view of the dancing environment, the floor could have been a dirt floor, wood plank, stone, tiles, vinyl, and concrete; with space available from tiny rooms to big salons. The earliest footwear could have been heavy boots (mostly worn by port workers), later on regular walking shoes with leather sole to modern shoes with different sole materials for different dancing floor surface materials. Fashions have changed over time from tight fitting clothing to baggy fashions. All these factors have contributed certain effects to tango’s appearances.
During the early time in tango history, it is believed that dancing was done in heavy boots, leaders can only dance with “heel lead” walking style. Later on, with proper shoes, leaders can dance with “toe lead” walking style.
In a small room with limited floor space and a lot of people, there is no room for intrigue steps. Close embrace was not meant to be a style, but it was due the necessity of the circumstance of the dancing environment.
The addition of waltz rhythm to tango was from the influence of popular partner dancing culture of the old days from Europe. Again, tango had been evolving with time and under the influence of other culture.
The matter of styles is really identification labels of differences to promote segregations and should be left at the door steps before entering into any milonga. However, tango practitioners ought to investigate the history of the evolution of tango and gain a complete picture of tango rather than pre-occupied with the thoughts of categorizing what is being danced on the floor.
These are foods for thoughts from our friends in Buenos Aires.