Going to a Tango Show is one of the things many visitors to Buenos Aires want to experience. I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread where we can share information and experiences on the good (and also the bad) shows in town.

While a nice Tango Show can be one of the highlights of a trip to this city, its also a common tourist trap where visitors can be taken to the cleaners, not so much because of a bad quality show but especially with mediocre food & beverage services that are most of the time part of the Tango show experience.

One of the city's best shows is, IMO, Rojo Tango. Its held daily at the Faena Hotel & Universe. It is one of the more expensive shows in town, but I think its worth it... ^

For details, please see:

http://www.rojotango.com/

Sorry Alex, you have great info about BsAs which I always respect, however when it comes to Tango shows, especially the ones like the one at Faena are tango for export and tourists. Not real or even good tango. I have be coming to BsAs since 97 at least twice a year, now dividing my time between ny and BsAs just for this purpose.

As you stated there are many tourist rip off's of tango in and around BsAs and while Faena's is decent I would never consider going to such a show.

There are plenty of real Milongas every night, some good some awful. The scene changes every night. The best thing I can say is that if and when someone wants to attend a milonga email me and I will be happy to see what is doing at what milonga. While a milonga might be good on a Monday it may be awful on Tuesday.

Also most milongas charge 7-12 pesos not the high cost at the shows.

While these are not "shows" many people just go to watch the dancing and there usually is a performance by some professional dancers. As an added bonus there usually is a lesson early in the evening included in the admission.

Or you might want to consider one of the shows at Cafe Tortoni on Avenida de Mayo. Sure, lots of tourists do go there too but mostly from within Argentina and the rest of South America. Limited seating so make a booking. You'll be close to the action and pay a fraction of what you would at the other shows, especially Faena's.
see http://www.cafetortoni.com.ar/

Hello NyTango-- thank you very much for your feedback, I guess we will have to agree to disagree in this instance.

Since I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you, I will speculate a little here but from your above post it seems like you are not the usual tourist or one time visitor that comes to Buenos Aires, but more a seasoned traveler that knows Buenos Aires well, feels comfortable going to just about all areas in town, and in addition you seem to be dead serious about Tango (my guess is that you are probably a Purist when it comes to Tango). I don’t mean this in a negative way, what Im trying to say is that you are passionate about tango in its original and classic form.

However, in my experience with visitors, 90% are looking for a different Tango experience. Many don’t feel comfortable in the traditional Milonga places, many of which are somewhat run-down and located in places where it seems intimidating to visit if you are from out of town. Also, most folks look for an evening program that also includes dinner, and want to do this at a place that they can “feel comfortable”. As you yourself state, Milongas can vary greatly in quality on different days of the week… visitors want consistency and no surprises.

IMHO, its rather harsh and unfair to brand a show like the one at the Faena Hotel as not being Tango or not being authentic. It is modern interpretation of Tango, it’s a dance that has many modern additions, is more physical and acrobatic, but most professional Tango dancers would take offense at the comment that they do not dance the real Tango. Just like any art form, I think there is room and also a market for the style of Tango (modern Tango) which is what is offered at a show like Rojo Tango.

Regardless, your post is the reason why I started this thread. I think its great that we have a Tango show thread where we can help folks have the info. to choose from all the different styles & offerings that are available in the city. Im sure you have a lot of information and experience to share about Buenos Aires, and I look forward to seeing your posts on this thread and this forum on a regular basis.

Cheers,
Alex

Great post Panam, I think the Tortoni is also a feasible option. Although, Ive heard that the service has kind of gone downhill lately, and the Coffee Shop itself is in dire need of a renovation. Still, well worth a visit though.

I love tango; I have been to three tango shows and the three were great to watch but unbearable to listen to because of the extremely high sound level: huge, and I mean huge, speakers right next to the restaurant tables, within a small lounge like a typical restaurant with a small stage in a corner.

Any suggestions for a place that will not perforate my eardrums? I'm not a tango expert, just the typical tourist, so I'm not looking for tango purity.

Viajero, have you been to the Faena/Rojo Tango?

Another option is the recently re-opened Cafe de los Angelitos. They have an offering of a few different shows with programs that include dance, song & orchestras that perform different programs.

Nope, are they reasonably relaxed (not ear piercing)? I tend to stay away from the high end places, because I love the tango show itself, not the "this and that au gratin with fine herbs from Nepal" nonsense food typical of haute cuisine places; give me a BIG steak with potato salad and a bottle of unlabeled house red and I'm happy.

[BTW, I had a look at the Rojo menu from the link you posted (thanks), and it turned me off: too haute for me]

Alex,, I don't disagree with most of your post and agree with almost all you post about BsAs ( except for driving without lights or dim lights) but that is an aside.

I confess to being a purist when it comes to tango. What most if not all the shows put on is an exageration of tango. Modern, Physical and acrobatic have nothing to do with real tango. In fact some electronic music is now called tango. Tango is the embrace, music and feeling. Most of the dancers in the shows are trained ballet and modern dancers who dance their version of tango steps.

This really is an ongoing debate and arguement in the tango community. Too much for this thread and not really important for tourists. Most of this is because the gov't of BsAs has learned that tango brings millions of dollars to the city. they now have ongoing seminars and workshops not for the dancers but promoters and business men telling them how to profit and promote show tango and even hold "championships" which were unheard of before.

All I am saying is that to really experience tango you have to go to local milongas and watch the tango how it has been danced for many years.

Go to the shows if you want but they will be expensive dinner shows with second or worse rate food.

So why not give the Cafe Tortoni (see link above) a shot? It is definitely not high falutin' and you may feel at home on Avenida de Mayo

NYCTango-- Do check out the Cafe de los Angelitos if you get a chance, I would love to hear your review on the place.

Being a dance writer (and a dancer about 1000 years ago) I understand this debate. I wanted to see authentic Argentinean tango on my last visit, and made a date with a friend down there to go to a milonga, but alas, she had flu and it did not happen. I may try again on this trip, but I don't think I would go to a milonga alone, because the primary purpose as I understand it is not to watch but to participate. Is that right, nyctango?

I went at the last moment to the Tango Piazzola show. The dancing was decent, theatricalized tango and I was lucky enough to be with a table of Argentineans (travel professionals who were being brought there to sample the place so they could speak about it to clients) Meeting them made it worthwhile - otherwise it probably would have been all tourists. The food was not brilliant, but acceptable and while it was expensive for Argentina, it wasn't by US standards - in '05 about $55 for the evening.

For the most part that is right, most people go to dance. But don't be put off by that. If you want to see authentic tango the only place is in the milongas and many people do go and just enjoy watching and listening to the music. For this it is best when there is a an orchestra and performance. That is why it is important to know when you want to go. It changes on a nightly basis.
As I dancer why not take the free lessons offered before the milonga.
Also I see you are in nyc,,, there are authentic Argentine tango milongas every night in the city. Also some are good others not so good depending on the night.

NYtango-- great input and feedback on your part... if I may be so bold to ask you, it would be wonderful if you could share your experiences at the different milongas and other tango related venues in Buenos Aires. I look forward to your posts and Im sure all others visiting these forums will also be very thankful.