The Main Festival Venue

Built In 1911, lodge members contracted with Montana’s premier architectural firm of Link and Haire to design this Neoclassical style building.

The Missoula Mercantile implement store occupied the prime retail space. A 1950 remodel transformed the first floor, but the upper floors’ exterior look much as they did in 1911. In addition to meeting rooms, the Elks Lodge contained two bars, thirty-two apartments, a swimming pool later transformed into a basketball court, a weight room, locker room, shooting range, and bowling alley that is now a third bar.

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Our main festival venue features a ballroom with a beautiful wooden dance floor where the majority of the milongas are held. Additional spaces include a room downstairs with a small dance floor for classes and private lessons.

Secondary Venue

 

The Florence Hotel is conveniently located a black away from the Elks Lodge. It was originally constructed in 1888 and rebuilt after fire in 1941. Boasting a rich history dating back to the mid-20th century, this boutique hotel exudes a cozy ambiance with its Art-Deco decor and charm.

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Some classes and private lessons will be held in the historic Governors Ballroom on the beautiful original parquet floor. 

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Thursday Night Milonga

Argentine Tango aficionados and facilitators of long-lasting tango connections, Patrick Marsolek and Lori Mitchell, invite festival dancers from far and wide to experience the once-in-a-lifetime magic of dancing amongst the tall pines of the Potomac Valley in their yurt, at Second Chance Tango. The yurt is specially designed and used for hosting regular milongas for those fortunate enough to call Western Montana home, and getting there is an adventure in itself.

Dancers will enjoy a scenic twenty-minute drive along the World-famous Blackfoot River from Missoula. Once there, they will find themselves tip-toeing along the well-trodden path toward the sounds of their favorite composers mingled with the laughter and murmur of a crowd of tango friends. Life-long memories are guaranteed to be formed in the magic found dancing here under the big sky.  

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Directions:

https://www.tangoconnectionsmissoula.com/Yurt

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To sign up for a ride or volunteer to share your ride, please add your info to this ride share spreadsheet: Ride Share to Yurt and Hot Springs

Please note this spreadsheet has ride share sign ups for both the Thursday night Yurt as well as the Hot Springs, so please be careful which columns you add your information too, both if necessary.

Private Lessons
 

Montana Moonlight Studios was founded in February 2024, through a shared passion for tango dancing, by Rob Montango and Tango Allison. It is located just a couple of blocks from the Elks Lodge. Within easy walking distance of our other festival venues. 

 

Their mission is to create a space for all levels of dancers, finding a balance between enjoyment of the art and continuous improvement. They love to create community and empower the arts in Missoula. 

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Some private lessons will be held at Moonlight during the festival. Please pay close attention to the schedule and location when signing up for private lessons.