Montana Tango Festival Schedule 2026
Wednesday, September 23rd
Time
Location & Event
8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Glacier Park Trip
A group of tangueros are renting a passenger van and driving up to Glacier National Park for a day trip to experience glorious nature sightseeing, photography, and light hiking. Please contact Michael Plaks at plaksm@gmail.com if interested.
$75 per person.
6:00PM - 8:00PM
1042 Monroe Street in the backyard
Local Missoula Practica "Tres Rios" - $5 per person
Thursday, September 24th
Time
Location & Event
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Outdoors Adventure
3rd Annual Mushroom Hunt Guided Hike with a forager. Hunt for mushrooms in the Montana Back Country. Please contact Michael Plaks at plaksm@gmail.com to sign up.
$30 per person.
5:30 PM
Yurt Rideshare
Meet at Elks. Sign up on the rideshare sheet as a driver or a passenger to get to the Yurt!
383 N. Coloma Way, Potomac MT 59823
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Second Chance
Pre-Milonga Potluck *Free* - Enjoy a potluck dinner at the beautiful Second Chance Yurt in Potomac, MT. This is a favorite event among festival attendees
7:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Yurt Milonga
with DJ Lorena Diez *Free*
Friday, September 25th
Time
Location & Event
*9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Outdoors Adventures
Hiking and Hot Springs Adventure Opportunities. Check the Activities page for more information.
Elks Ballroom
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Yoga with Lori Chase
Elks Downstairs
Montana Moonlight Studios
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Alexander Technique Class with Mari Hodges
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Afternoon milonga
with DJ Lenore Brown
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Tango Photography Class with Louis Parks
*Free* Informal session, come talk about gear, techniques, etiquette, editing, etc
6:00 PM - 7:15 PM
Eleonora - Build a balanced, efficient body organization using the principles of the Tango Flow System. Learn how to create stability, freedom, and effortless movement
Daniel & Alejandra -
Boleos and Patadas: The technique for boleos and patadas for leaders and followers applied in dance. The lead for boleos and embellishments. INT/ADV
7:15 PM - 8:00 PM
Champagne Mixer with live piano music by Chip Miller - Relax before the night's festivities and meet other festival attendees. *Free*, In Elks Lounge
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Mixer Milonga
with Lela & Faith - Games to get to know other dancers. *Free*
9:00 PM - 1:00 AM
"Black & White" Welcome Milonga with DJ Mariano Bejarano
11:00 PM
Performances by Eleonora and Valentin
Saturday, September 26th
Time
Location & Event
8:00AM - 1:00PM
Caras Park Market
Clark Fork People’s Market one block from the venue. Take a break and check out the local market In Missoula, food and Gifts, Great for Out of Towners!
Elks Ballroom
10:30 AM - 11:20 PM
DJs & Doughnuts - *FREE* A Montana Tango Festival Signature event. Meet the DJs at a Q&A discussion about their favorite orchestras, how they structure their sets, sound engineering and more.
Elks Downstairs
Yoga Julie Rae-
Free Yoga Class to keep loose for dancing
Florence Hotel
Jael & Jesus -
Walking in Lanes: Floorcraft, Navigation & Smooth Passing ALL
11:30AM - 12:45 PM
Eleonora -
Pivots & Axis Control:
Explore the mechanics of pivots through body organization, breath, and axis. Learn to pivot with stability, ease, and musical expression. INT
James & Dagny -
Soltadas: Connection Without Contact
Discover how timing, direction, and shared intention allow dancers to release the embrace without losing connection. We'll explore practical soltada concepts that remain musical, social, and comfortable.INT/ADV
1:00 PM - 2:15PM
Eleonora -
The Art of Walking & Weight Transfer:
Improve your walk by mastering balance, transition, and efficient weight transfer. Build a grounded yet light connection with the floor. ALL Levels
James & Dagny-
Tango Decoded: Movement from the Ground Up
Walking, pivots, and turns are the building blocks of tango. Understand how these fundamental movements work together to create dancing that feels smoother, clearer, and more efficient. ALL
Daniel & Alejandra -Technique for lapices & planeos for leaders & followers: How to apply them when dancing in a couple. INT/ADV
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
Jael & Jesus Playing with the Questions and Answers of the Music with Classic Orchestras. ALL
Daniel & Alejandra -
Sacadas for leaders and followers:
How to use them in the proper way, when and how, and a safe way of doing it. INT/ADV
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
4:15 PM - 7:15 PM
Caras Park
🎠 Ever ridden a carousel while it plays tango music? 1-hour before the outdoor milonga by the river, Missoula's own Carousel at Caras Park will be playing Tango Music. Come ride the ponies while you wait for the Outdoor Milonga to begin. (its right next to the pavillion) Riders Must buy Tokens at the Carosel to Ride (roughly $2 per ride)
Sunset Open Air Milonga by the Clark Fork River with DJ Sandra. 3 blocks from the Elks. River View Incredible views, live music, and local food trucks. Peruvian and Columbian food available for purchase Ticketed event, included for full- and milonga-pass holders. Bearienzo might even make an appearance.🐻
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Elks Ballroom
Beginner Intro Class taught by Lenore Brown
8:00 PM - 3:00 AM
Grand Milonga
with DJ Jae Youn
10:00 PM
11:00 PM
Live Music from Tango Bardo
Performances by Dagny and James, Alejandra,Daniel and Valentin
Sunday, September 27th
Time
Location & Event
10:30AM - 11:30PM
Elks Ballroom
Elks Downstairs
Florence Hotel
Musicality Class with Tango Bardo
James and Dagny -
Nuevo Concepts for the Social Floor:
Modern movement ideas adapted for practical use in crowded social dancing environments. ADV
11:45AM - 1:00PM
Daniel & Alejandra -Technique for dancing milonga: different steps and sequences. BEG/INT
Jael & Jesus-
Double ochos forward: Timing, precision & Connection INT/ADV
Eleonora -
Progressive Adornos: Develop elegant, flowing adornos that grow naturally from the movement. Learn how to decorate without interrupting the dance. BEG/INT
1:15PM - 2:45PM
Master Class with all Teachers -
Dynamic turns
3:00PM - 6:00PM
Badlander Tango In Technicolor
Alternative Milonga at the Badlander is a Tango Night Club experience. Light show, DJ Duel James Valentino VS Dagny Miller and Live music with Andrea Harsell
8:00PM - 1:00AM
Elks Ballroom
Closing Milonga with DJ Ken Broom
10:00 PM
Performance by Jael and Jesus
Teacher's Ronda Performance