A milonga is not the only place where it’s possible to dance tango. In the tango world, there are also tango festivals and tango marathons. So, what are they?
A marathon is a special tango event that can last for several days, during which there are multiple milongas held one after another, with breaks only for lunch, dinner, and sleep. Usually, such marathons are attended by dancers from different countries and are especially popular among experienced dancers. There are even marathons where the music plays non-stop, with no breaks at all — only the tango DJs change. A tango marathon is an excellent place to meet new dancers from all over the world, and it represents pure dedication to dancing.
A festival is another type of special tango event that usually lasts several days and hosts many international dancers. But unlike a marathon, where the sole purpose is to dance as much as possible, a festival encompasses many other activities.
Usually, a festival features invited couples of well-known international tango teachers and performers (or, in tango language, tango maestros). This often means there are classes and lessons during the day, while the milongas take place in the evening. The invited maestros perform show dances at the evening milongas, and very often, there are also tango orchestras playing live music. So, a festival includes many more tango activities and is, in fact, a major event for both beginner and experienced dancers. I have attended many festivals, especially when I was still learning and taking classes.
I love both festivals and marathons because of their unique atmosphere, which feels very different from regular, everyday tango life.