3319 The milonga shuffle in Buenos Aires
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 20:17:09 -0300
From: Janis Kenyon <jantango@FEEDBACK.NET.AR>
Subject: The milonga shuffle in Buenos Aires
No one could have imagined that the tragic event that claimed the lives of
so many young people on December 30, 2004, would have such a strong impact
on the functioning of the milongas, but that is the reality. All milongas
were closed for weeks, while new fire regulations were mandated and safety
became a priority. Some milonga organizers decided to open in other
locations on a temporary basis. Others have waited patiently for
reopenings.
Things haven't returned to normal. This has caused travelers to cancel
their plans to visit Buenos Aires. Tango is one of the biggest reasons for
tourism to Buenos Aires. The reduced number of milongas results in people
being turned away at the door, since capacity limits are strictly enforced.
I heard that Salon Nuevo Argentina had to turn away 190 people on Friday
night who wanted to dance to a live orchestra.
The milongas aren't the same with the new restriction of music. An
afternoon milonga was closed by the police when they heard cumbia music
being played for the cortina. Dancers were shocked a few weeks ago when the
DJ in Enrique's Saturday afternoon milonga took a big risk when he played a
tanda of salsa and cumbia music. I asked Enrique about this, and he said,
"the dancers want it. We are taking a chance."
When the milongas were closed at the beginning of January, organizers Victor
Patricio and Adriana Febbroni of Lunes de Tango in Celia Tango Club decided
to move to Circulo Trovador in Vicente Lopez, outside of the capital
federal. It
was the only place to dance on Monday. They had been at Celia's for three
years. Celia Tango Club is still closed, so they have decided to open in
the Bauen Hotel on April 4 (on Callao near Corrientes). Hector Pellozo, who
ran his milonga on Friday and Saturday afternoons in Celia's, moved
temporarily to Club Villa Malcolm. Luis Trapasso is waiting for the
reopening of Celia's to hold his Wednesday milonga there.
Recently, I learned of the existence of a letter being circulated among
tourists on the subject of discrimination. It seems that a few tourists
feel they are being treated unfairly by one organizer who is charging them
10 pesos while locals pay only 6. One has to remember that when the peso
was equal to the dollar in Argentina, tourists were paying 5 dollars at most
milongas; they pay less now than they did years ago due to the devaluation
of the peso. In my opinion, the milonga entradas are a bargain for all
foreigners who can enjoy many hours of good dancing. For example:
Lunes de Tango at the Bauen Hotel will charge 8 pesos to all.
La Turca's at Ideal: 10 pesos (tourists); 6 pesos (locals)
El Arranque: women 4 pesos; men 6 pesos
Salon Canning on Saturday nights: 7 pesos each; Wednesdays: women 5; men 6.
Enrique's at Leonesa on Saturday afternoon: 4 pesos
Plaza Bohemia opening Wed. April 6 will be 1 peso to everyone during the
month of April.
The increase in entradas hasn't kept dancers away. Salon Canning was packed
as usual yesterday. The floor was crowded from 6-8pm; jammed from 8-10pm
and then space opened up for the last hour. On
Sundays it's the same. The serious (over 50+) dancers know where to go.
I talked with one of Celia's employees the other day who says she will be
opening soon, but couldn't give me an exact date. All are eagerly awaiting
the reopening with the great music of Dany.
Janis Kenyon
Buenos Aires
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 11:38:14 -0800
From: Carlos Rojas <Crojas@HACIENDACDC.ORG>
Subject: Re: The milonga shuffle in Buenos Aires
Does anyone know the website that Shahrukh Merchant created for current open
milongas in BA?
Thanks in advance
Carlos Rojas
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 21:47:32 +0200
From: Christian Lüthen <christian.luethen@GMX.NET>
Subject: Re: The milonga shuffle in Buenos Aires
Che, Carlitos!
On 31 Mar 2005 at 11:38, Carlos Rojas wrote:
> Does anyone know the website that Shahrukh Merchant created for
> current open milongas in BA?
Don't you keep an archive of Tango-L on your HardDisk? :-))
Here you are:
https://www.BuenosAiresMilongas.com
:-)))
Are you leaving for Baires soon?
Have a great time!
C'ya soon, I hope!
Christian
christian@eTanguero.net
https://www.eTanguero.net/
