More Tango
I think I jinxed us. I really, really didn't mean it but I think I did because for the past three days it didn't stop raining. Of course, Buenos Aires does not lack in indoor activities, but the rain has made the atmosphere around here sort off depressing. For the next few days all we did is mellow out in the TV/Internet room with some Israelis who were also staying in the same hostel, and slithered out into the wet streets only to find a dry place to grab a bite or sneak in a Tango lesson.
Nevertheless, between showers, we managed to catch another two Tango Shows. The first was an amazing value for the 45 pesos (US$15) that we paid half an hour before the curtain went up. We were sort off under-dressed for the occasion, sitting in the eighth row of a fairly impressive theater hall with BA's very well dressed citizens on both our sides. Oblivious to who is performing, we had no idea what to expect besides that there will be lots of tango and very little talking (I checked). Apparently, the head performer was Miguel Angel Zotto, an internationally acclaimed Tango dancer who has been performing around the world with his dance troupe "Tango for 2". In this show, even with our limited Spanish, the history of tango was told through old photographs and period appropriate dance. For over two hours I was on the edge of my seat, stretching my neck out, to see these dancers weave ropes with their legs. By the end of the performance my palms were red and swollen but all I wanted was to learn and dance Tango.
It was late, but not too late for some more Tango. We headed in the direction of our hostel and on the way decided to take advantage of the BA's always open late restaurants. We were just about to decide which one to go into, when I noticed a couple of gentlemen dancing Tango on a street nearby one of the cafes. I called Shurik up, and for a few minutes we got to sneak a peek at a rehearsal. We watched them like you would watch two rare birds on a branch whom you are afraid to spook away when a man working for the restaurant approached us and suggested we go in to see the whole show. We entered, and there, on the tiniest stage I have ever seen, two men and two women alternated dancing with each other, trying to avoid kicking (not always successfully) nearby tables, waiters, and low hanging lamps. By the end of their performance we could not resist and took some pictures with the dancers.
Nevertheless, between showers, we managed to catch another two Tango Shows. The first was an amazing value for the 45 pesos (US$15) that we paid half an hour before the curtain went up. We were sort off under-dressed for the occasion, sitting in the eighth row of a fairly impressive theater hall with BA's very well dressed citizens on both our sides. Oblivious to who is performing, we had no idea what to expect besides that there will be lots of tango and very little talking (I checked). Apparently, the head performer was Miguel Angel Zotto, an internationally acclaimed Tango dancer who has been performing around the world with his dance troupe "Tango for 2". In this show, even with our limited Spanish, the history of tango was told through old photographs and period appropriate dance. For over two hours I was on the edge of my seat, stretching my neck out, to see these dancers weave ropes with their legs. By the end of the performance my palms were red and swollen but all I wanted was to learn and dance Tango.
It was late, but not too late for some more Tango. We headed in the direction of our hostel and on the way decided to take advantage of the BA's always open late restaurants. We were just about to decide which one to go into, when I noticed a couple of gentlemen dancing Tango on a street nearby one of the cafes. I called Shurik up, and for a few minutes we got to sneak a peek at a rehearsal. We watched them like you would watch two rare birds on a branch whom you are afraid to spook away when a man working for the restaurant approached us and suggested we go in to see the whole show. We entered, and there, on the tiniest stage I have ever seen, two men and two women alternated dancing with each other, trying to avoid kicking (not always successfully) nearby tables, waiters, and low hanging lamps. By the end of their performance we could not resist and took some pictures with the dancers.