Ten years ago Regin was open seven nights a week for dancing. It was on my agenda at least once a week-Monday and/or Wednesday during my last visit before I moved to Buenos Aires. Monday was Claudio Castello’s milonga; Wednesday was Alicia’s milonga with her partner George who was fluent in English.
Regin was a real dive. It wasn’t well maintained, but it was where you could always find milongueros. The ladies’ room was a disaster. The entrada was only five pesos (then five dollars) on Monday and two pesos on Wednesday. Carlos Lafflito was one of the deejays. At 5:00 a.m. he left the booth to dance.
I have many memories of nights at Regin. It was where I danced my first tanda with Alito on November 19, 1998. My journal has it recorded although I didn’t know his name at the time. It’s impossible to forget such an experience; I described it as melting. It was where I met Kathy from Chicago who moved to Buenos Aires, which only proves how small the world is. It was where I saw Gustavo Naveira dancing socially. It was where I got stepped on so hard while dancing rock that I was unable to walk and had to be carried down the stairs. It was the place with red-and-white checkered tablecloths, but it was a far cry from being a picnic. Regin was a place for serious dancing.
Regin closed the end of November 1998. The organizers moved their milongas to Re-Fa-Si at the corner of Entre Rios and Humberto Primo (now known as Lo de Celia Tango Club).
Tags: Milongas, Milongueros, Regin
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