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"Milonga," coming from an African dialect, is the singular of "mulonga" which means "words." The Milonga had
originated as a form of song, and was a variant of the lengthy improvisations (with guitar accompaniment) that were the hallmark of the Payadores, the folk-singers of the pampa (country) who had played an
important part in the now vanishing world of the gaucho.
Once in the city, the Milonga-music with its tempo simplified, acquired steps of its
own. A new dance evolved based on the steps of: the Candombé (from African slaves in Argentina), the Habanera (from black Cubans in Buenos-Aires) the Mazurka (dance of Poland) and the Polka (dance of
Czechoslovakia), that became known as a Milonga.
There are different variations of Milonga rhythm: Milonga campera and Milonga candombera. The music is normally played in 2/4, at a slower or
faster tempo. Good examples of the Milonga Porteña include 'Pampas Calientas' (Eduardo Arolas) and 'La Puñalada' (Puntin Catellanos.)
Tango, Milonga, Vals Cruzado…"It is an internal power that
develops a high degree of sensuality taking place between two bodies using a maximum expression in a minimum circular space and obeying the rules of atoms." (Ive Simard)
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