Tango music can be very uplifting. Whenever I feel sad, frustrated or anxious, by listening to Tango music, I feel immediately better, and sometimes even joyous. This is especially true when its live music. There is something about the energy produced by the musicians into the instrument that reverberates into the heart and soul of the listener. One cannot help but to be pulled with emotion by this music. And if you know how to dance Tango, it compels you to move. See for yourself here, with … Continue reading
Articles by Guest Writers
Teaching Tango in Africa
A few years ago I received an email from Camille Cusumano requesting support for her “Go Fund Me” campaign to teach tango in Africa. Camille is someone I’ve known for several years now, first as the author of Tango: An Argentine Love Story and then in person as a Bay Area dancer and teacher. Her […]
The Art of the Cabeceo
The cabeceo is considered the “Argentine” method of asking someone to dance. And truth be told, it is not easy for us North Americans to feel comfortable staring at someone so directly. But once you get the hang of it, it’s definitely a great way to acknowledge your mutual interest in dancing together. I have […]
Tango and the Feminist
A new guest post By Sasha Cagen “You’re not getting the lead,” he tells me. Gruff, mid-fifties, beady eyes, a ponytail dwindling halfway down his back, Ponytail Man chose me as his partner for this advanced tango class at Floreal, a traditional milonga in Buenos Aires. It’s nice to be chosen, but now I’m not […]
More Tango Confessions by Tanguera Escondida
Another humorous story by guest writer Tanguera Escondida: Situations In Which Followers Should Be Paid To Go To Group Classes I recently decided to take a group class with one of my favorite instructors in the Bay area. I love his focus on the basics, his salon tango embrace, the way he walks around the […]
How Many Tandas?
Half a tanda or 10? When do you leave a tanda, and for how many do you stay? The latest from guest writer Tanguera Escondida. One of my worst experiences in tango happened recently. I was sitting along the wall at a popular milonga when a dignified-looking man approached, wearing a pin-striped suit and button-up […]
Celebrating 20 years of Tuesday Night Tango
The El V Story by Andrea Bindereif “Where did the time go?” asks Julian Ramil, and as they both shake their heads his wife Claudia repeats: “Yes, where did the time go?” We were talking about El V, one of the best-known milongas in San Francisco and beyond, and which was about to celebrate […]
Articles about Bay Area Milongas
Dancing Tango in Public Spaces
There is something exciting about dancing Tango in cultural spaces around San Francisco, especially with an appreciative audience of bystanders. Terence Clarke and Beatrice Bowles of TangoCalifia have been bringing Tango out of the dark milongas and into beautiful (gasp) public spaces around San Francisco since 2007. These free public Milongas have been held at […]
Saying Goodbye to Favorite SF Milongas
As many of you may know by now, many of our most popular tango venues have closed recently or will be closing soon. Verdi Club will be having its last milonga this Thursday, May 29th. The Monte Cristo, one of the bay area’s longest running milongas run by Gary and Nirmala closed its doors at […]
Milonga Spotlight: El Abrazo
After-hours DJ Club turns into Argentine Milonga. Yep, I’m talking about El Abrazo, the once a month Friday night Milonga at Danzhaus. Danzhaus, aka the Gingerbread House, located in the industrial part of Potrero Hill, is San Francisco’s only professional dance studio and late night party venue that has also been named “Best of the […]
Milonga Spotlight: Sácale Punta
In Tango, when we think of Berkeley, most people think of the Beat. And for good reason of course. The Beat has maintained its status over the years as a great place for Tango primarily due to the Monday nights Practica and the monthly All-Nighter. That being said, there is now another reason to head […]
Milonga Spotlight: Cellspace
It’s a Wednesday Night and you are in the Mission. You are at 18th and Bryant to be exact. You find yourself attracted to the colorful murals flanking the outside walls as the music of Piazolla, Bajofondo or Tom Waits drifts out on to the street. As you enter, an ever changing art gallery greets […]
Tango at The Red Victorian
Tango in a Historic San Francisco Landmark Hotel! The Red Victorian is the big red Victorian smack in the middle of upper Haight. Really, you can’t miss it… that is unless you get sidetracked by all the tie dye, street kids, and hipster stores…. just kidding. Go directly there, don’t get sidetracked. Here is a […]