Tango-ing

Sa 7.8.13

• one purchase on my Argentina list has been tango shoes
• so a few months ago, I found a great gold pair at a tango shop downtown on Suipacha (entre Sarmiento y Perón)
• after I bought them, I never wore them...mainly due to lack of opportunity
• once I got pregnant, I realized I probably wouldn't be using them much in the following 9 months...and when trying to pack up some things to take back to the US, the tango shoes seemed like good candidates
• but I couldn't have Argentine tango shoes and never tango with them IN Argentina
• so off to Salon Canning we went, Jake his first time, me, my second
• now it is important to note that many say it takes 2-3 years for a man to really learn how to tango...so you can see how intimidating this could be for Jake, and also maybe you can understand why we haven't attempted to start this learning process, even while living in the city famous for tango

• that said, this was our first attempt at any kind of tango dancing ever
• tango classes are offered at Salon Canning for all levels at various times and dates throughout the week, and for a reasonable price (I think we paid around 30-50 pesos/person for the class and the milonga (open dance) that followed)
• when we entered the room, the class had already begun...
• I don't think either of us had ever felt more uncomfortable

• the room was almost too well-lit and quiet, all of the tables surrounding the dance floor were empty, and there were around 10 other couples on the floor who looked like they knew what they were doing...also we were the youngest in the group by a good 20 years I'd say (I mean this place is totally old-school, throw-back)...all these factors maybe made us stand out just a bit
• we sheepishly took a seat at an empty table in the back to discuss our action plan
• should we leave? what were we thinking? we don't know one single STEP of tango? is the instructor going to be angry? will the other couples turn up their noses at our lack of skill? what are we going to do?
• amidst our panic of questions, the instructor came over to our table and introduced himself, then Jake explained our situation to him in Spanish...it was our first time, we know nothing, etc. and the instructor didn't seem to be at all worried
• he brought his female partner over and they so kindly showed us a basic step to let us practice in the corner of the dance floor

• so we practiced this basic 8-count over and over and over...stopping several times and scooting back over to a corner so as to be out of the way of the real dancers (our greatest challenge the whole night...avoiding traffic!)
• ...then we realized there was tango music playing and that we should probably try to dance to the beat (genius!) ...so we kind of found our rhythm (maybe with the help of a little instructor's tip to sway side to side before beginning the step...hehe) 
• after a few songs, the instructors would gather the group for a mini-demonstration of a new step for the couples to try (we watched attentively, but kinda just stuck to the one 8-count we knew)
• the instructor or his partner would occasionally stop by to see how we were doing...then would add in a few things here and there, like how to turn (we were only dancing in a straight line before...we'd get to the end of the dance floor and walk back to the start) and also how to do a spin
• we kind of liked our new little moves...and were able to have fun and get into it a bit more
• we danced this way for about two (quick!) hours until the class ended and the milonga began

• at that point, we took a little break for some beverages and empanadas...and to watch the others a bit

• we wanted to get back out on the dance floor at least one more time before leaving, just to see how if we could remember our moves in a "real" setting
• we lasted maybe one song before the floor just seemed too crowded...making Jake a little stressed about bumping into others
• so we took off
• but I got to use my tango shoes! YAY! 

• and the shoes proved to be useful dance shoes at weddings, as I wore them at my friend's wedding last month in the States
• thanks for being willing, husband, to take me tango-ing!  I see more dance classes in our future... :)
• p.s. can you believe that my glutes were sore later that evening an into the next day? can you tell I don't wear heels often!? it's a workout!