Greenwood Social Hall

3rd Saturdays at Greenwood Social Hall
$20 at the door, cash or venmo
Wine and fresh empanadas are provided 

2026 Schedule
January 17
February 21
No March
April 18
May 16
No June
July 18
August 15
September 19
October 17
November 21
December 19

milonga: n. a specific kind of Argenitian Tango social event
peregrinos: spanish pilgrim

Brief History of Milonga Dancing (MasterClass.com)

Milonga music emerged in the nineteenth century in lower-income neighborhoods in Uruguay and Río de la Plata region of Argentina. Learn more about the dance’s history:

Argentine cowboys: The dance originated with Argentine cowboys, known as gauchos, who danced in local brothels, blending elements of the habanera, the polka, and other global folk dances.

Increasing popularity: By the late 1870s, Argentines performed this dance everywhere from street events and clubs to dedicated gatherings designed for dancing. Many Argentine and Uruguayan composers and singers created works celebrating this musical genre and dance style. However, members of high society still considered milonga disreputable because it disregarded the societal norms governing physical closeness.

Mainstream approval: As social norms relaxed, the milonga found mainstream approval. Although the traditional milonga is still popular today, especially in Buenos Aires, it also birthed another dance style, the Argentine tango. This ballroom dance originated in the late 1800s when the milonga merged with a light-hearted flamenco known as the Spanish tango. Unlike the milonga, the tango places emphasis on slower pace, drama, and precise, synchronized movements.

Milonga and tango today: The history of these dances is so interrelated that some call dedicated tango “milongueros” because they perfected their skills on the dance floors of Argentine milongas—events or venues where people come to dance the tango or milonga.