Milongas & Practicas

Vamos a bailar! Now that you’ve taken some classes, it’s time to practice your skills in social dancing!

If you’re a beginner, it’s better to go to Practicas (practice events, tend to be casual and more friendly) instead of Milongas (focus is on enjoying social dancing). Practicas are more welcoming for people at the beginner to intermediate levels.

The Hoy Milonga website lists all social dancing events every day. Some tips for using the website:

  • To find listings for Practicas look for “(Práctica)” under the event title.
  • Many events have a group class at the start – the listing has the two feet  icon. Check the event listing for details on time and teachers.
  • Events with a star  icon means there will be exhibition performances and/or a live band “Música en vivo”.
  • The organizers typically have more details for events on their FB or IG pages – links are usually on the Hoy Milonga event page. You can also contact them on their phone number via WhatsApp to get more info, especially to make a reservation for a table.

Our recommended milongas and practicas are based on experiences from members of the TangoVida Lounge. Keep in mind that Milongas and Practicas vary quite a bit in terms of formality (dress code, etc), skill level, and openness to dancing with strangers/foreigners or “friendliness”. Some things to note:

  • The outdoor and neighborhood milongas and Practicas tend to be more friendly and casual dress.
  • Try several milongas to find the ones that you enjoy for your level and where you find your “tribe”.
  • At a Practica, try to ask for feedback from your partner – every dance is a learning opportunity.

Tips:

  • Milongas/Practica names are different from the venues that host them, but the names are often used interchangeably (I know, it’s confusing).
  • Many venues (such as Salon Marabu, La Nacional, El Beso, and El Zorzal) host several different Milongas/Practicas on different days and times.
  • Take the class before the Practica/Milonga to experience different teachers, and to meet people to dance with and make friends.
La Viruta Tango Club

Reserve a Table at a Milonga

You can contact the organizer of a Milonga, typically via their WhatsApp number (listed on the event page on the Hoy Milonga website), and reserve a table for you and friends – for free.

The advantage is that typically you’ll get a table that is in a better location (and you can request a specific area) and there are enough chairs for you and your friends.

Tip: Make friends by reserving a table and then posting a signup list in The TangoVida Lounge. It’s the easiest way to meet new people and make friends to go to milongas together with.

Note: If you are joining someone else’s reserved table (from a signup list in The TangoVida Lounge), please do not cancel last minute. This can reflect badly for the table organizer and can make it more difficult to reserve tables with good locations as the Milonga organizers note these things. Also, by canceling at the last minute (or not showing up) in a full table, you prevent someone else from going. Please be considerate and commit when you sign up for a table reservation.

Note: You usually have to arrive by a specific time to keep your table; after a certain time, the organizers give the open tables away to other people who need them – make sure to ask what time you must arrive by.

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