Milonga Felice

Caroline at Tangospeak as well as Miss Tango have both talked about their Happy Milongas.  I’ve decided (well, I’ve always known) that I have three Happy Milongas – one for Seattle, one for Italy, and one for Buenos Aires.  “Happy Milonga” is actually Miss Tango’s term, so I’ll just say it in Italian for my own use – Milonga Felice.

My Milonga Felice in Seattle is definitely La Garua, which is more or less every other Sunday.  It’s organized by a fabulous, strong, beautiful Argentine woman named Griselda – whose son is one of my favorite guys to dance with.  (seriously, one of the few men here who dance the style that I experienced in Buenos Aires.)  It’s the highest quality milonga I’ve been to in Seattle.  I always, always have good tandas there, and it’s the one place where I can connect with most people and where I feel the most at home.  It’s got a certain “Argentine” quality to it that I have not found at any other milonga in Seattle.  Don’t get me wrong, there are other milongas that I enjoy so very much in Seattle (China Harbor & Dance Underground for their great dance floors & friendly people, Il Bistro for totally enjoyable socializing, lovely music and nice wine), but La Garua definitely takes the cake.  It’s the one milonga that has helped to ease my post-Buenos Aires culture shock.

My Milonga Felice in (or around) Perugia, Italy is a tie between Friday nights at Starmax and Saturday nights at Tangare.  Starmax is Awesome with a capital A.  Situated in Santa Maria degli Angeli, it’s more or less under Assisi.  From the beautiful dance floor, you can see the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, the Basilica di San Francesco, the Rocca Maggiore, and all the beautiful lights of Assisi that look like stars.  How can you not have a good time dancing in these circumstances?  There is a restaurant there and the food isn’t that great, but my friends and I have always gone early to eat dinner together and then start the milonga.   With DJs like Lorenzo (who starts the night) and Daniele, you are guaranteed a fabulous, fabulous time with friendly, open people.  I brought my friend Katie to this milonga and she was instantly embraced by the community and I believe she may have been bitten by the Tango bug.  As for Saturdays at Tangare, it is a very small and very milonguero place to dance.  It’s just… wonderful.  Most of Perugia’s tango community dances a little “on-axis” for my taste (but the dancing is still very good quality), and it is here at Tangare that I can get comfy and dance more “apilado”.

In Rome, by the way, I highly recommend La Milonga dei Serpenti (in Via dei Serpenti as a matter of fact).  It’s so nice to drive there all the way from Perugia with friends, and then when it’s over around 3 or 4 in the morning, drive back up and on your way stop at the Autogrill and get yourself a cornetto and a caffe latte (equivalent to stopping at a café in Buenos Aires for a medialuna and café con leche).  Priceless.

My Milonga Felice in Buenos Aires was Thursdays at Club Espanol but those have turned into Thursdays at Casa Galicia – I’m sure it’s just as wonderful, and I’ll have to get back down there to check it out.  Lo de Celia comes out on top as well (I’m sure Deby would agree). Very good quality dancing and music – in fact it was there that I danced the best Pugliese set of my life (I know, scandalous!).