Here is a great guide to help you learn about tango music:

It’s written by a tango musician and musicologist who is very historically informed and clear thinking, Pablo Aslan. He is working on his own music, with his NY band Avantango. Check them out!

When you get a chance, please read our brand new guide to tango etiquette. It includes exciting topics like emotions and how to ask someone to dance…

We started with Tina Herreman’s excellent guide to tango manners, then we added to it and queerified it.

On the last day of the beginner’s series, we’ll practice using the queerified codigos.

(thanks to lexa’s blog for this post!)

Tango Tales radio show is not about playing music only - it is about educating the listeners about Argentine tango - music & dance.

The show is broadcasted on Saturdays 9:00-10:00am on Portsmouth Community Radio ( listen on line www.wscafm.org),

but you can DOWNLOAD the most of the episodes from the show’s site: www.tangotales.com.

WWW.TANGOTALES.COM HAS MORE FOR YOU:

- browse movie, book and music recommendations

- new CD releases

- read essays by other tango lovers

- sample the extensive list of alternative tango music (yes, sample - not just read the list of titles)

- browse links to the most informative sites & pages (not just links to more links!)

COMING SOON:

- podcasting via iTunes (just subscribe to the service and the new episode will be ready for you to download into your MP3 player - LISTEN ON THE GO)

- sampler of Argentine tango music by the modern musicians - for dancing and listening. The best of the best.

HERE ARE THE MOST POPULAR SHOW EPISODES:

Brief history of tango music. Told by the semi-professional pianist Max Valentinuzzi, who played during Golden Age

www.tangotales.com/archive/MaxTangoHistory.htm

Jorge Luis Borges: blindness.

Jorge Luis Borges: tango poetry

www.tangotales.com/archive/Borges.htm

Histories of old tangos: La Paloma, El Choclo, Caminito…

www.tangotales.com/archive/MoreOldTangos.htm

Understanding the genius of Astor Piazzolla (with Osvaldo Golijov, Yo-yo Ma, Carlos Prieto)

www.tangotales.com/archive/Piazzolla.htm

ABOVE ALL… TANGO is a COMMUNAL AFFAIR:

if you have something interesting to say - about music or dance - you are welcome to contact me!

Thank you for listening and contributing - Elmira

Elmira Cancelada
show host, Tango Tales

Portsmouth Community Radio 106.1 FM SATURDAYS 9:00-10:00 AM ET Internet:www.wscafm.org

Social dances are called “milongas”. It’s like a party or dance night. Usually it is at the same place every week (some are once a month). Every city has a website announcing the milongas. Usually there is a fee at the door (around $10) for 4 or 5 hours of dancing.

Some people dress up, others dress very casually. The milonga is a space in which you are welcome to express yourself flamboyantly with your clothing and be sexy.

We recommend that beginners attend a milonga along with a group of friends to make sure that you have people to dance with. at milongas, there is a code unique to tango which governs how people ask others to dance (these are discussed here)

Note that “milonga” has a second meaning, which is a type of music, a very fast and bouncy type of tango music.

Practicas are an informal milonga. There is a DJ to play music and people show up to practice with whoever is there.

Some people come with a partner and do not change partners.

Many people come alone, in order to practice with various people.

Some people change partners after the tanda, others may dance together for a long time. It is more flexible than a milonga.

Unlike at a milonga, it’s ok to stop during the song and ask questions, practice a move over and over, or give feedback.

People dress up less for a practica, the lights are usually on, and it is cheaper $0-$5.