At 01:14 PM 10/21/2005, you wrote:
maybe you'll
change the name of your own Milongas to Tango & Tea Party?
Seth :-)
I think using some cliche titles presents this risk but not every "tango &
tea" has the ballroom component.
We have "Tango & Tea Party" title for an event we hold as a 3-hr guided
practica and since it is on a Sunday almost around the early dinner time
for some, we bring along some food and tea and coffee to serve. So, it is
literally "tango & tea" but as we present it, it is not a milonga not
just because it involves ballroom! It is a better idea, in my opinion,
to let communities hold their events in the best way they can without
being judgemental from the beginning and if one assumes a role as an
"impartial" information lister for the whole tango community in city or
region, then judging the quality of the event should be left up to the
participant, not to the lister as long as it is stated as a disclaimer in
the listing or announcement that it is not an endorsement.
Regarding the question what a milonga is, I believe a social gathering
where you can dance to sets of Argentine tangos as well as some occasional
sets of salsa or other preferred types of music for that particular
community. It is better to have a devoted milonga (dance hall) however,
holding milongas at restaurants or cafes where the dancers are not treated
as secondary customers could increase the chances to have more public
exposure of the tango as a social dance.
Best,
Gulden Ozen
Durham, NC
www.tangophilia.com