Boston Tango Marathon

Outside a few major cities, most tango communities in the U.S. remain quite small. As a result, tango enthusiasts often travel to large festivals for the chance to dance with a broader and more diverse crowd. But attending these events can be costly. A festival pass can range from $250 to $3,500; a private lesson with a renowned instructor may cost between $100 and $300 per hour. Add to that airfare ($250–$500 per person), hotel accommodations for four nights ($400–$600), and car rental and gas (around $250), and the total climbs quickly. With additional expenses like parking, tolls, and food, a couple could easily spend several thousand dollars on a single weekend—enough to fund a multi-week trip to Buenos Aires.

In recent years, tango marathons have become my favorite type of event because they allow me to focus entirely on dancing. Unlike festivals, marathons don’t include lessons, which means organizers don’t need to hire instructors. This significantly reduces costs. The environment is often more refined as well—fewer beginners, a less crowded dance floor, and more consistent adherence to milonga codes. In short, marathons offer many of the things I appreciate most about tango, without the hefty price tag.

Two weeks ago, I attended the Boston Tango Marathon. Although it was only in its second year, it was a resounding success, thanks to the dedication of its organizers and the efforts of fifty volunteers from the Boston tango community. The pass cost just $100 and included 40 hours of dancing over three days, along with meals, drinks, refreshments, and even ice cream. Clearly, the goal wasn’t profit but creating an exceptional experience for dancers. Best of all, the marathon had a unifying theme: friendship. This was emphasized throughout the weekend. Each time the host asked the crowd about the event’s theme, the entire room responded in unison: “Friendship!” It genuinely resonated.

I truly appreciate the organizers’ commitment to creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere—something that is often overlooked in the U.S., where the focus tends to fall primarily on dance technique. In Buenos Aires, by contrast, fostering a sense of community is a central part of tango culture. Guests are warmly greeted at the door, seating is carefully arranged to facilitate the cabeceo, tables are neatly dressed with clean linens, food and drinks are served directly to the table, and milonga codes are diligently observed. While in the U.S., break time is often filled with announcements, in Buenos Aires it is more commonly used to educate dancers about tango’s traditions and values.

Richard Miller once mentioned in his blog a sign he saw at Milonga Cachirulo in Buenos Aires. It read:

“Welcome to the best milonga in Buenos Aires. Tanguero friends, please pay attention:
• Here we dance milonguero-style tango and respect the codes of the milonga.
• We dance with a warm, respectful, close embrace.
• We follow the line of dance in a counterclockwise direction.
• We avoid stepping backward into the line of dance, always moving forward, as it             should be.
• We keep our feet close to the floor to avoid hitting other dancers.
• We invite women to dance through the classic ‘Cabeceo del caballero.’
• Most importantly, respect is the foundation of the milonga.
Much to our regret, not respecting these codes will make it impossible to dance at Cachirulo.”

It is this kind of care and intention that makes milongas in Buenos Aires truly special. I’m encouraged to see that some organizers in the U.S. are beginning to move in a similar direction. Tango is a dance of the dancers, by the dancers, and for the dancers. It shouldn’t take thousands of dollars to enjoy. What matters most is cultivating a warm, respectful culture through thoughtful leadership and community education. Thanks to the Boston Tango Marathon, we now have a beautiful example.