Staying Grounded #16 - Marathon Culture

May 20, 2025•1 min read

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Staying Grounded #16 - Marathon Culture

Can the rise of invite-only tango marathons coexist with healthy local milongas—or are they quietly draining the life out of home scenes? Amanda, Melody, and Jon trace how marathon culture began, why it feels so addictive, and the trade-offs every dancer (and organizer) should know.

Highlights

Marathon vs. festival: origins, pricing & the “no performances” ethos
How private, curated events reshape social dynamics—and spark FOMO
The unintended cost to local classes, milongas, and newcomer growth
Ideas to keep hometown tango thriving alongside marathon travel

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A product of Vienna Tango School LLC
Produced by Amanda Garley, Melody Yazdani, and Jon Zhang
Edited by Jon Zhang
Business & Media inquiries: [email protected]

Jon Zhang

Jon Zhang is the founder of Vienna Tango School, a social dancer, and teacher. He enjoys producing Staying Grounded, the VTS podcast, sharing our experiences with the rest of the tango community.

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