¡Copello!

Last night I went to dance ….. it’s often what I do here! My Spanish teacher invited me to see her Tango teachers perform at La Viruta and since she is more of a beginner at Tango than I am and needs some support and encouragement I was more than happy to go. Call it ‘Floor time’ or ‘mileage’, dancing in the Milonga is the only way to figure out your Tango … there are no shortcuts. Viruta can be hit or miss however, early in the evening there are lots of beginners but after 3:00 am the entry is free and the very good dancers from many of the other Milongas, which are winding down, come to Viruta to continue the fun until 6:00 am. On Friday night their is a Salsa class, a Tango class and then a Milonga, and later in the evening or madrugada the ‘show’. This is pretty standard stuff and even though I don’t dance every night I have seen a lot of ‘shows’. Well last night/this morning was an unexpected and amazing treat …. three couples performed, Carlos Copello with his partner, his son, Maxi and partner Nadia Johnson, and his daughter, Miriam with her partner, Chris Castro! When Carlos danced …. it gave me goosebumps, he is a milonguero thru and thru, and has clearly followed his bliss! Every step certain, confident, exact, without exaggeration, and an amazing connection …. you could see it, feel it, WOW! All three couples danced their final song together, spectacular …. it truly was a ‘Show’! After 6 hours of dancing my feet were killing me, I went home with a smile, a memory and an experience I will never forget!