Other than Tango rhythm, which is most commonly known, Argentine Tango dancers usually enjoy two other related dances: Vals (waltz) and Milonga.
(Milonga is also the name given to clubs and events especially for dancing Tango. This double meaning of the word Milonga can be confusing unless one knows the context in which the word “Milonga” is used. People who dance at Milongas are known as milongueros.)
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Tango, Salon style
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Vals:
Music for the Vals is in 3/4 time. Tango dancers dance the Vals in a rather relaxed, smooth flowing dancing style in contrast to Viennese Waltz where the dancers often take 3 steps per measure and turn almost constantly. Experienced dancers alternate the smooth one-beat-per-measure walk with some double time steps (often incorrectly called syncopated walks), stepping on one- two- or (rarely) all three beats in a measure. Vals dancing is characterized by absence of pauses; continual turns (giros) in both directions are not done as in ballroom quick waltz, although turns are sometimes introduced for variety.
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Milonga:
Milonga, in 2/4 time, has a strongly accented beat, and sometimes an underlying “habanera” rhythm. Dancers avoid pausing, and often introduce double-time steps (incorrectly called syncopation and more appropriately called traspies) into their walks and turns. Milonga dancing uses the same basic elements as tango, with a strong emphasis on the rhythm, and figures that tend to be less complex than some danced in other varieties of tango. Some tango instructors say that tango steps should not be used in Milonga and that Milonga has its own special rhythm and steps, which are quite different from tango.
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Tango In Red – By Artist Misha Lenn
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I absolutely want to do this. I took ballroom lessons years ago with friends and loved it. But haven’t had the chance to try the tango!!