Two to Tango

My Argentinean friend has been inviting me to tango with her for months, and finally last week I got my act together to go. I was nervous, never having tangoed before, and more still when I arrived at the cafe and learned that once they cleared the floor for the lesson, those who were not participating could stay, enjoy their coffees, and watch. The last thing I wanted was anyone's attention on me.

The lesson began when the owner of the cafe stepped out from behind the coffee bar, took off his apron, donned his dance shoes, and stepped onto the dance floor. Jorge was patient and kind as he coached each of the 5 of us to glide gracefully across the floor--forward, backward, sideways, first the leg, then the body follows. It wasn't so bad!

At the conclusion of the hour lesson, other more experienced dancers began to arrive to practice their moves on the open floor. Someone asked me to dance, and after explaining that it was only my first day, I was led onto the floor. For those who don't know, the tango is danced VERY closely. As the dancers' movements are more improvisational than rhythmic, the follower literally leans on her partner in order to feel the lead.

My partner and I glided, twisted, paused, when suddenly he pushed me away in order to pull me quickly back in again. However, the push that was meant to separate us, sent me reeling forward, into him! I looked down to find that my belt loop had gotten caught on his belt buckle. I chuckled apologetically and reached down to untangle us, but to no avail! He also tried, but it was no use. With the two of us giggling uncontrollably, another couple came over to offer to help. It was actually 4 minutes of being joined at the waist, before the couple was able to untangle my belt loop from his belt buckle. 4 minutes doesn't seem like a long time unless your faces are 4 inches from each other and you are akwardly introducing yourselves, "so... I'm Caitlyn.. etc, etc,.. do you live around here?..etc, etc... my, your teeth are awfully white, what kind of toothpaste do you use?.. is that so?..."

To my second lesson tonight, I will wear no belt loops.