What is a Neolonga?

neolonga [neoh-long-gah] n. A Neotango social dance event.

If a Milonga is a traditional Argentine Tango social event, then a Neolonga is the same but for Neotango.

Different Neotango DJs will have different approaches to a Neolonga, but all of them will play a broad selection of music from a wide variety of genres. Some will put an emphasis on 'world music', taking you on a tour of global styles throught the evening. Others will concentrate on jazz or slow rock, or electrotango, or any other genre. Some will play each track as a separate entity, allowing you a moment to reset as they switch from one genre to another, whilst others will blend the music together into a liquid flow of emotive sound that lasts for the whole evening, leaving it up to the dancers to decide when they want to stop and restart with another partner.

Some DJs will include traditional music in their sets, occasionally even grouping them in tandas as a nod to the traditional way. Others choose modern variations of classic tracks by nuevo and electrotango bands such as Otros Aires or Bajofondo to maintain their connection to the traditional. However they do it though, a Neotango evening will be quintessentially Tango, regardless of the music being played.

The Music

Dancers who have spent time with traditional tango music often say that Neotango lacks nuance and variation, that the music is all at the same pace and that there is no room for interpretation. But good Neotango music has just as much variation as any tango orchestra. In the same way as traditional dancers have to learn to listen to the counter-rhythms and melodies of the bandoneon and the violins in a typical tango orchestra, Neotango dancers need to learn to listen to all the instruments individually and switch between them.

You dance to the tone of the music, the cadence, the flow created by the interaction of the melody with the accompanying musicians, not just the thump thump thump of the bass drum. Neotango is no less versatile than traditional, it just needs to be learned a little differently.

Other Dance Genres

As much of the music played at Neotango events is cross-genre, it is natural that some or all of it will be perfect for other dance styles. Blues, Ballroom, LeRoc, and more will all be represented on the playlist, so why would they not be represented on the dance floor as well?

The only rule at a Neolonga is that whatever style you dance, you don't make things awkward for everyone else. Neotango is not traditional tango, and you will not be asked to leave a Neolonga just because you danced the Blues. Find a spot that is out of the way of the tango dancers progressing around the edge (if in doubt, ask the organiser where a good place would be), and dance whatever and however you like.

And remember that this is not just tolerated... this is encouraged! Neotango is about evolution, inclusion, and having fun.

 

Neolongas

We will list neotango events here soon.