A milonga is a tango dance party. It’s also the oldest of the traditional tango dances: tango, vals and milonga, but this page is about the dance party.
In South America these were originally gatherings in the African communities of Montevideo and Buenos Aires on either side of the Rio de la Plata. Milonga’s origins in the Kongo culture of Central Africa (modern Angola) and blend with Cuban Habanera (contradanza) traditions, and later French ballet are clear.
There are no milongas in New York City during the COVID-19 Pandemic, but community dancers are teaching online. We don’t know what will come back because important members of New York’s tango community have scattered to the wind. These were some of New York City’s best milongas when everything shut down in March 2020.
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Milongas by Day of the Week
New York City normally has several milongas every night of the week. Again, this was the scene in March 2020.
Mondays
Ensueño Tango Salon
Good dancers in a restaurant with a bar
9:30 pm – 1 am
Hosted by Tioma Maloratsky & José Fluk
Ukrainian East Village Restaurant
140 2nd Ave, New York, NY
(between 8th & 9th St)
East Village, Manhattan
$13
Tuesdays
Since Triangulo lost it’s lease in 2018, Tuesdays have been a toss up.
Wednesdays
VolvoTango (Outdoors)
Beautiful river views. Wooden pier floor with small gaps. Good dancers and good for beginners too.
Warm weather Afternoons/Evenings until sunset
Check VolvoTango.com for times
Hosted by Steve Beltzer
Pier 45 (at the end of the pier)
West Side Highway at Christopher St
Greenwich Village, Manhattan
$10 suggested donation
Tango Cafe
Younger crowd. Visiting internationals. Good dancers in a dance studio.
9:30 pm – 1 am
Hosted by Adam Hoopengardner & Ciko
You Should Be Dancing
412 Eighth Ave, New York, NY 10001
(between 30th & 31st St)
Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan
$14 or $12 before 9:45 pm
Thursdays
Tango La Nacional
Most Argentine traditional milonga in New York City. Good dancers in a salon with a bar. Good guest artists.
9:30 pm – 2 am
Hosted by Juan Pablo Vicente & Coco Arregui
La Nacional
239 West 14th St, New York, NY
(between Seventh & Eighth Ave)
Chelsea, Manhattan
$15
Fridays
Friday Afternoon Milonga
It’s finally Friday. In a dance studio.
4:30 – 8:30 pm
Hosted by Eddie Sanabria & Maura Hays
Dardo Galletto Studios
151 West 46th St, New York, NY
11th Floor
(between Sixth & Seventh Ave)
Midtown, Manhattan
$15
Saturdays
Central Park Tango (Outdoors)
Romantic location. Cement block floor. Good for beginners.
June – September: 6 – 9:30 pm
Shakespeare Statue
Central Park, Manhattan
Free, but a donation helps
Mala Leche
Younger crowd. Good dancers in a dance studio.
1st Saturday: 10 pm – late
Hosted by Adam Hoopengardner & Ciko
Stepping Out Studios
412 Eighth Ave, New York, NY 10001
4th Floor
(between 30th & 31st St)
Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan
$15 or $18 with class
All Night Milonga
Big milonga in a dance studio. Good guest artists.
2nd and Last Saturdays: 10 pm – 5 am
Hosted by Sarah La Rocca
Stepping Out Studios
37 West 26th St, New York, NY 10010
(between Sixth Ave & Broadway)
NoMad, Manhattan
$16 or $18 with class
Tango Nocturne
Younger crowd. Draws dancers from East Coast.
3rd Saturdays: 10 pm – 3:30 am
Hosted by Robin Thomas
DanceSport
22 West 34th St, New York, NY
4th Floor
(Next door to the Empire State Building)
Midtown South, Manhattan
$15
Sundays
VolvoTango (outdoors)
Beautiful river views. Wooden pier floor with small gaps. Good dancers and also good for beginners.
Warm weather Afternoons/Evenings until sunset
Check VolvoTango.com
Hosted by Steve Beltzer
Pier 45 (at the end of the pier)
West Side Highway at Christopher St
Greenwich Village, Manhattan
$10 suggested donation
El Destino
Best Tango dancers in New York City
6 – 11 pm
Hosted by Tine Herreman & Michelle Lamb
Solas
232 East 9th St, New York, NY
(between Second & Third Ave)
East Village, Manhattan
$10 before 7 pm, $12 after
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