| Tango in Central Illinois |
Tango Society milongas are held regularly (more or less monthly) at the Phillips Recreation Center of the Urbana Park District, as well as occasionally at the Illini Union of the University of Illinois. Both venues provide wood floors appropriate for dancing. Prior to each milonga there is a tango lesson. [See Home Page]
Current Schedule of Tango Society Milongas (2007):
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About Milongas
The milonga is the tango social dance. Tango Society milongas provide a friendly environment where most people know each other and newcomers are welcomed. Some people come with partners, but most people dance with a variety of partners throughout the evening.
There is a range of styles of dress, from casual to formal, with most people somewhere in the middle. Most experienced dancers have dance shoes; however, most leather-soled "dress" shoes are appropriate for dancing. Avoid sandals or any other shoes that do not fit firmly on your feet. Also avoid rubber-soled shoes (e.g., athletic shoes) or any shoes that grip the floor too strongly.
With occasional exceptions, recorded music is played at Tango Society milongas. The music program includes all 3 major classes of tango rhythms - tango (about 70%), milonga (about 15%) and vals (about 15%). There are additional stylistic variations, depending upon the orchestra played. Most tangos are 2-4 minutes long. Music is organized into "tandas" (sets) of 3-4 songs of the same rhythm by the same orchestra, separated by "cortinas", short segments of non-tango music. It is customary to dance an entire tanda with the same partner. It is considered impolite to 'cut in' on dancing couples.
Navigation is important at milongas. Good dancers progress around the room in a counterclockwise line of dance without passing other or going against the line of dance.
Most of the music played at Tango Society milongas is classic tango music from the Golden Age (approximately 1930-1955), which has rhythms most suitable for dancing tango.
| Tango in Central Illinois |