Light in Darkness –
Double Role & queer milongas
1. – 4.1.2026
El Ático, Helsinki
Welcome to spend a lovely double role & queer tango weekend at El Ático dance studio! We offer five long milongas with international & local DJ's and a workshop by Malin Backström (SE).
You may also arrive already for our local association Amigos del Tango's (AdT) traditional New Year's Eve Potluck Milonga on Wednesday 31.12. and celebrate New Year with us!
In a friendly & cosy atmosphere we can relax, get to know each other and enjoy both dancing and socializing. In addition, you may f.ex. try out Finnish sauna and ice swimming or explore Helsinki with old & new tango friends.
Milongas
DOUBLE ROLE & QUEER MILONGAS
– included in the milonga pass:
Thursday 1.1.
🕒 12 – 18 New Year's Day Milonga
Friday 2.1.
🕒 19 – 01 Evening milonga
Saturday 3.1.
🕒 11 – 17 Brunch milonga
🕒 19 – 01 Evening milonga
Sunday 4.1.
🕒 11 – 17 Brunch milonga
These milongas are aimed for double role and queer dancers. One role dancers may also book a milonga pass or arrive to single milongas together with a partner of the opposite role – so that we'll maintain a role balance.
AdT MILONGAS
– not included in the milonga pass:
Wednesday 31.12.
🕒 20 – 02 New Year's Eve Potluck Milonga
Thursday 1.1.
🕒 20 – 23.30 Milonga del Jueves
Sunday 4.1.
🕒 18 – 21.30 Milonga el Huracán (30% alternative music)
These are local tango association Amigos del Tango's regular milongas with no role requirements. They take place at the same venue than our event – so if you want to dance even more, you may join us in these ones as well!
DJ's
Confirmed DJ's so far are Dimitri Tsambrounis (Munich, DE), Jaana Hänninen (Tampere, FI), Jessica Carleson (Stockholm, SE), Malin Backström (Stockholm, SE) and Ulla Kastrup (Stockholm, SE).
Workshop with Malin Backström
Before the Friday evening milonga Malin Backström will give a workshop for double role dancers:
DANCING WITH DIFFERENT QUALITIES – We explore 6 different movement qualities and how we can use them to “spice up” our dance with very different flavors. This is a playful workshop that suits all levels, perfect as a warm-up for the milonga. We'll be changing both roles and couples.
You may reserve your spot at the workshop when booking a milonga pass.
Malin Backström is a Swedish pioneer of queer and double role dancing. In her teaching Malin focuses on communication and musicality. From her point of view, it's much more interesting how you dance (quality and comfort) than what you dance (steps and patterns).
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Friday 2.1. 🕒 17.30 – 19
Venue
The venue for all milongas: EL ÁTICO dance studio, Kumpulantie 1 (in Itä-Pasila / East Pasila neighbourhood), 8th floor. The studio is run by a local non-profit tango association Amigos del Tango (AdT) and has excellent floor for dancing & cosy atmosphere.
The venue is easy to get to from the center of Helsinki and from the airport. Trams number 2 and 9 and bus 59 stop in front of the building and there's only a short walk to Pasila railway station. Check out El Ático here: tango.fi/en/el-atico
At all double role & queer milongas we offer sweet and salty pastries, bread with toppings, fruits, coffee, tea etc. Brunch milongas and New Year's Day milonga also serve Finnish style breakfast.
For New Year's Eve Potluck milonga everyone is asked to bring something (food or drink) to share. This is our local tango association's tradition; you may bring something from your country if you want!
There are several restaurants within walking distance from El Ático, to visit for a dinner whenever you feel like it. You may also order take away or bring your own food and warm it at El Ático's fully equipped kitchen.
There is no bar at El Ático but you are free to bring with you whichever drinks you prefer to enjoy.
Prices
MILONGA PASSES
Sold only in advance until 21.12.
Double role milonga pass Thursday–Sunday
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AdT members and people living abroad:
80 € until 31.10.
90 € 1.11.–21.12.
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non-members living in Finland:
95 € until 31.10.
105 € 1.11.–21.12.
Double role milonga pass Friday–Sunday
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AdT members and people living abroad:
65 € until 31.10.
75 € 1.11.–21.12.
-
non-members living in Finland:
80 € until 31.10.
90 € 1.11.–21.12.
SINGLE MILONGA TICKETS
Double role milongas Thursday–Sunday
Sold at the door if there is space, card payment only
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AdT members and people living abroad:
22 €
-
non-members living in Finland:
28 €
AdT milongas
Sold at the door, card payment only
New Years' Eve Potluck Milonga
-
10–20 €, confirmed closer to the date
Thursday and Sunday evening milongas:
-
8 € – AdT members and people living abroad
-
12 € – non-members living in Finland
WORKSHOP
For double role dancers, sold together with a milonga pass:
-
15 € / person
Extras
SAUNA and OUTDOOR SWIMMING
On Friday afternoon we'll make a sauna excursion for which you may choose one of these options:
A) Löyly: a lovely place with two different wood-heated saunas, one of them a traditional Finnish smoke sauna – well worth experiencing! You may also drop yourself in the ice cold sea. Both saunas are unisex and swimming suit is required. Price 26 €, everyone needs to book their own ticket from the sauna venue Löyly's website – be early because they will sell out for sure!
B) Allas Pool: if you've already visited Löyly or prefer to really swim, here you may choose from five electric saunas (unisex and men's / women's saunas). There's a +27 degree outdoor swimming pool (swimming suit required) and a cold seawater pool. Price 18 €, no need to book in advance.
More detailed instructions will be sent for those who book a milonga pass.
QUEER MUSEUM VISIT or FLASH MOB
If there is interest, on Friday we may organise a queer tour to a private art museum Taidekoti Kirpilä as it's been loved at the last editions of our event. The place used to be a home of a wealthy male couple and has a wide collection of 20th century Finnish art, added with some modern artworks.
Another option is a tango flash mob at the central library Oodi. The building is famous for its architecture.
Timing-wise these activites would most likely be on top of each other so when booking your milonga pass, you may tell us which one you'd be interested in participating, if any.
General information and cancellation policy
Cancellation policy: Milonga pass payments can be refunded in case of cancellation until 21.12. (except for possible money transfer fees).
Information about Amigos del Tango association: tango.fi.
Facebook event – link coming up!
ANY QUESTIONS? Send us email: doublerole@tango.fi
Event organiser: Amigos del Tango association's double role team – Leila, Saana, Tatu, Alex, Heru, Jaana, Jouni and other volunteers
Where to stay in Helsinki near El Ático:
Unfortunately the cheap HMI hostel has all of a sudden closed their business. We are very sorry about this. :(
So, we recommend this one as a budget option:
CheapSleep Hostel
Sturenkatu 27 B, 00510 Helsinki
14 min walk to El Ático, 22 min walk / 11 min by tram to Pasila station
– With the promo code LIGHT2026 (valid for 25.12–10.1.) you get a 10% discount for your booking. Please book your room/bed as early as possible to be sure to get one – the hostel offers free cancellation up to 24 h before arrival.
There are also many inexpensive Airbnb flats nearby.
Hotels within walking distance:
Aleksis Kiven katu 23, 00510 Helsinki
9 min walk to El Ático, 14 min walk to Pasila station
Scandic Pasila
Maistraatinportti 3, Pasila, 00240 Helsinki
15 min walk to El Ático, 9 min walk to Pasila station
Holiday Inn Helsinki – Expo, an IHG Hotel
Messuaukio 1, 00520 Helsinki, Finland
8 min walk to El Ático, 6 min walk to Pasila station
Sokos Hotel Tripla
Fredikanterassi 1 B, 00520 Helsinki
8 min walk to El Ático, 2 min walk to Pasila station
All hotels that are in Alppila, Alppiharju/Harju, Kallio, Hakaniemi, Kaisaniemi, Center / main railway station, Töölö or Kamppi districts will be on the routes of trams 2 or 9, both of which stop at the door of El Ático. (The tram routes will be back to normal in November 2025.)
You can also always try to make new friends and surf someone’s couch:
Helsinki Tango Accommodation / couch / floor surfing Facebook group