I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had much time to think about what I will write here next, so while I get back to my translating I will leave you with this lovely clip of Ney Melo and Jennifer Bratt dancing to the beautiful tango “En La Buena y En La Mala” at last years Capri Tango Festival.

[youtube=[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=diRBTaRPIF8]

(Click to enlarge)

Our chests connected and I gently draped my left arm over his neck and shoulders. My eyes slowly closed and the music soon infiltrated our embrace…we began to move as one. Almost at once, I was no longer on a dance floor in Denver; I was in Buenos Aires, sitting outside at a cafe near Plaza de Mayo, watching passersby, sipping Gancia (ahem, with soda and lemon, right Miss Tango?). That visual passed seamlessly into another one - now we were in a milonga in Maipu 444. My eyes opened slightly and I could see the outline of his shoulder and neck. I could smell a touch of cigarette smoke on his shirt, as well as his aftershave. I felt intimately protected. I felt as though the dance was dedicated to me. I knew I was dancing with a milonguero - he had the soul of a milonguero. As the tanda progressed, my body was tingling from our connection and the sensation of….que se yo. The air around us buzzed with electricity from an earlier thunderstorm. I felt as though a spirit was passing through us while we danced. I knew in my heart that he sensed the same things. I wanted to weep. The tanda ended, and he gave me a gentle squeeze. I opened my eyes, expecting to be somewhere else…somewhere in Buenos Aires. Instead I was in Colorado. We looked at each other, our eyes glazed over with post-tango euphoria, and smiled. Our dance had been blessed with the Ghost.

Here I am at the tango festival in Denver. It was a very last minute decision, and I’m glad I made it.

It was very easy to get here - Frontier Airlines was good. Very friendly service and they don’t charge for snacks. Imagine that. I got off the plane, hopped the shuttle to the hotel (where most of the festival events are being held), checked into my room, changed my shoes, and went downstairs to the alternative milonga. I never, ever do alternative because the whole reason I started dancing tango was for the traditional music, but I enjoyed this. Quite a lot of French music, which usually works for me. I saw many people I knew right away. I didn’t feel that I danced very well because like I said, the traditional music is exactly what inspired me to start dancing in the first place, so I just don’t “feel” alternative music. For the sake of having fun though, it’s fine.

The “Elegant Milonga” went last night until 3am. The DJ was Shory Myers, who I’ve always found has good taste in music. She played a few things I hadn’t heard before and it was really enjoyable. It was nice to dance with some friends that live elsewhere (Hawaii, Canada, etc…) The crowd was wonderful, as everyone danced close-embrace and everyone danced relatively calmly. I wasn’t feeling too energetic so this suited me just fine. Every invitation I received was done via the cabeceo, I’m happy to report. The setting was good for using such codes.

Being a cranky traditionalist who has a thing for dancing with milongueros, I was quite content with the quality of the dances. For the most part, I was able to seek connection and find it very easily. Steps were not important so much as just sharing in the romance of the moment. I felt very well taken care of (meaning, didn’t get bumped into or kicked. I felt safe.). I wasn’t in the mood for fancy footwork, just a nice relaxing time, and I’m glad to say that I got it.

Today there is a milonga and BBQ in a park, and then tonight, the all-night milonga - after which I will pack and head to the airport. I plan to spend Monday sleeping.

Denver is quite the foody town. I went with a couple of friends from Seattle for a couple of food adventures. Last night we ate at a restaurant called Potager, which had a very industrial-chic feel to it. The menu was a little weird (there were peaches in everything!) but the ingredients were local, the beef grass-fed, everything organic, and the wine list, fabulous. Today we ate lunch at Bistro Vendome, where I ordered steak frites… again, grass-fed beef. Let me tell you, beef tastes SO much better when the cows eat what they’re supposed to eat (grass, instead of cheap grains). Everywhere we went downtown, I saw all kinds of beautiful restaurants with incredible menus. My friend has been here many times and knows a lot of the restaurants and he can vouch for the fact that one can eat well here. So I think I’ll be back in Denver, if only for the food.

On another note, as if you couldn’t decifer it from my previous post entitled, “Febrero”, I’ll be back in Buenos Aires in February, which will be my 5-year Tango anniversary. Woohoo!! I’m spending this entire upcoming week (with the exception of my birthday) getting my translation career moving a little faster, re-establishing connections with some agencies, and I hope to be doing more of that freelance so that I can keep working while I travel. Wish me luck!
Oh great. Now I have an annoying song from Evita in my head… I have Madonna’s voice singing, “Rio de la Plata… Florida… Corrientes… 9 de Julio…” It wouldn’t be so bad if she didn’t have that gringa accent that I probably have as well. (You think that being fluent in Italian, I’d be able to speak Spanish a little better than I do…)

Last night (Monday) was the closing event for the Seattle Tango Magic Festival, and it took place at China Harbor. There is usually a milonga there on Monday nights, but this was made ever more special, as we were graced with a (double) performance by Sergio y Alejandra - um, they have a lot of energy!

The best part of the night for me, however, was towards the end. Over the weekend, We’ve had the fortune of getting to know Diego y Negracha a bit. Not only was this a great chance to improve my (lacking) Spanish (never mind that I was very timid at first), but I also think I have a new favorite couple in the entire world. I have never met such nice people - very humble and just so full of love for the dance (and each other).

Well, lucky me, I was able to share a beautiful, tranquil tanda with Diego. His lead is so wonderfully gentle, patient, sensitive…and sharp. He connected with the milonguera in me right away, and I was immediately able to relax and make myself vulnerable. What an experience!

“Muy bien! How long have you been dancing Tango?” he asked me. He seemed content when I told him 4-1/2 years (mas o menos). He wanted to know how I liked Buenos Aires, and I’m sure you can all guess how I answered. As we got more used to each other’s energy on the dance floor and our trust was established, he started leading me to do some fun things. I’m most pleased with the fact that I was able to relax with him.

Bliss…