Abstract
Prague tango is a social practice which revivals the dance forms of the last century in the circumstances of the modern city. Thanks to its historicity and its pluralism, both a dialogue between the generations and a dialogue between cultures become possible; both create fertile ground for the emergence of nostalgic manifestations.
This paper is an attempt to answer the question: How the Prague tango dancers either fit into a nostalgically-tinged time and space or create new spatio-temporal connections that allow them to experience nostalgia? To investigate the mutual influence between the urban space and the local tango community, I analyze my field observations collected at the Prague milongas (tango parties). My focus is the sensual and verbal forms that embody nostalgia which I propose calling 'nostalgic techniques'.
Chronotopic lens has allowed me for the revelation of the spatio-temporal relationships characteristic of Prague milongas that took place both before and after 24 February 2022. I offer to consider more detailly the effect of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the Prague tango community.
The chronotope of 'the effect of war' supposedly includes two nostalgic techniques: 'The moment of silence' allows those involved to slow down the course of events so that there is time for a reflection of what has been left behind 'there and then'. 'The echo of war' confronts community members with the transience of the tango experience.