How to Make Milonga Groovy

I'd like to write about something which I consider can help a milonga dancer to make those fast steps, keep the rhythm, and stay with a partner. There is some misunderstanding of what "tight connection" is. This is a whole art. In another article I express my views on what tango connection is.

As well as in tango, milonga rhythm is freely interpreted by dancers.
A dancer leads his own rhythmical patterns inside the other rhythmical patterns presented by various musical instruments and their interplay.

Even though the music is important, first of all a lady must listen to her leader - in accordance with his rhythmical patterns he leads a lady to something familiar or to... what might be something unexpected.

Gentlemen should listen to music. Immerse yourself in it! It gives better understanding of the Milonga rhythm instead of counting in-mind. Never count! It makes you too slow and off the music. But do not forget to lead. The leading skill is taken to extreme in milonga.

Most important in milonga: to have a right "milonguero" step and very good tight connection, so you can feel the rhythm in your partner well and give back your reactions.

To practice "milonguero" step, make a lot of cortes or all sorts and directions. It is sharp. Your leg has to stick into the floor and another one should be ready for the next sharp step in any direction: you push from the floor. Milonguero step must stop you completely no matter how fast you are moving.

The tighter the connection - the better you will dance milonga otherwise you have to be really skillful in milonguero steps. You easy bounce from your partner if you have the right connection redirecting energy to the next step. That is what gives the dance lightness. Otherwise you have to be a real master of a milonguero step to keep the dance going.

And the smaller the steps are the better.

I believe the best exercise for milonga is to practice something like Flamenco.

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Milonguero step is a name I use for a technique of making a step ( not a figure) in a specific way. It is a signature mark of a good dancer in Buenos Aires ( Milonguero ).