dancing a tango in a barcelona milonga
Saturday, 25 June 2011
Sunday, 19 June 2011
the final curtain...
my last week in Buenos Aires has been tango focused. two hours of tango a day has meant that I finally turned a corner with my dancing. I am now really enjoying the dance, not only am I able to stay on my feet, improvise a little, but I can also smile and enjoy the embrace.
sunday - "que passo ayer 2" (otherwise known as the hangover two)
monday - villa malcolm milonga, where I met my new favourite dance partner
tuesday - dinner at rio with my lovely dutch friend, and on to la catedral for an amazing milonga. this is by far my favourite milonga in buenos aires. the onda is electric. when the orchestra started to play in the middle of the night, everyone squeezed in and danced in a circle around them. and when the lights went off at four am, some of the orchestra came back out and played for us, whilst we danced in the dark.
wednesday - parilla with my housemate, and on to frank's where you step into a phone box, dial the secret code and the opposite wall of the phone box magically opens and lets you into this exclusive speakeasy.
thursday - I danced an amazing tango where I was doing things with my legs that I did not even know I could do! I ended up with both my legs on my partners left hip! I was so excited when I jumped off everyone in the room started clapping. then I headed home for a well deserved massage and rest.
friday - soiree at my apartment with homemade empanadas and a version of eton mess, and on to frank's again through the phone box.
saturday - tango school party, followed by my last trip to la catedral where I danced some of my best tangos so far.
sunday, today - I am finishing my packing, tidying up, writing and wondering whether there is anyway for me to squeeze in another tango this evening....
sunday - "que passo ayer 2" (otherwise known as the hangover two)
monday - villa malcolm milonga, where I met my new favourite dance partner
tuesday - dinner at rio with my lovely dutch friend, and on to la catedral for an amazing milonga. this is by far my favourite milonga in buenos aires. the onda is electric. when the orchestra started to play in the middle of the night, everyone squeezed in and danced in a circle around them. and when the lights went off at four am, some of the orchestra came back out and played for us, whilst we danced in the dark.
wednesday - parilla with my housemate, and on to frank's where you step into a phone box, dial the secret code and the opposite wall of the phone box magically opens and lets you into this exclusive speakeasy.
thursday - I danced an amazing tango where I was doing things with my legs that I did not even know I could do! I ended up with both my legs on my partners left hip! I was so excited when I jumped off everyone in the room started clapping. then I headed home for a well deserved massage and rest.
friday - soiree at my apartment with homemade empanadas and a version of eton mess, and on to frank's again through the phone box.
saturday - tango school party, followed by my last trip to la catedral where I danced some of my best tangos so far.
sunday, today - I am finishing my packing, tidying up, writing and wondering whether there is anyway for me to squeeze in another tango this evening....
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
less than a week to go
I have less than a week to go before I leave Buenos Aires.
it's been good, but it's time to move on.
I came here to get to know another city. check. I can navigate myself around the maze that is the city on buses and subways. I've walked hundreds of blocks, have been able to give people directions when asked, and offer recommendations too.
I came here to learn some Spanish. and I can do more than order a glass of wine or an empanada. I can hold my own in a conversation, I can follow a fast and furious debate, and to an extent I can philosophise about my emotions, my hopes and my dreams.
and of course I came here to learn the tango. and tango I can. sure I'm not perfect. but now when I am asked to dance at a milonga, I don't feel like I have to accept with an apology for being a beginner, I can follow a lot of leads and I haven't fallen over yet.
I still have things to learn. my guard still goes up when a stranger gets to close in the dance, but I am working on that, and it is much improved. I have learnt to "seperate" my lower body from my upper body, which is a bizaar concept. and I can almost always interpret a boleo alto and execute it with some grace.
I am yet to video my efforts. I have meant to for the last couple of days at class, but I am embarrased to ask. but today, I promise to try to pluck up the courage.
most importantly of all, I have made some lovely friends, friends that I hope to stay in touch with for a long time. and I have found some peace within me. and although I am still not entirely clear on the path that my life will take when I return home in just six weeks, I don't feel so afraid.
I feel like my time away has allowed me to get to know myself again, to find the Laura inside that over the past two years I could not always find. and you know what? it's great to get to know her again. I'd forgotten how much fun she can be!
it's been good, but it's time to move on.
I came here to get to know another city. check. I can navigate myself around the maze that is the city on buses and subways. I've walked hundreds of blocks, have been able to give people directions when asked, and offer recommendations too.
I came here to learn some Spanish. and I can do more than order a glass of wine or an empanada. I can hold my own in a conversation, I can follow a fast and furious debate, and to an extent I can philosophise about my emotions, my hopes and my dreams.
and of course I came here to learn the tango. and tango I can. sure I'm not perfect. but now when I am asked to dance at a milonga, I don't feel like I have to accept with an apology for being a beginner, I can follow a lot of leads and I haven't fallen over yet.
I still have things to learn. my guard still goes up when a stranger gets to close in the dance, but I am working on that, and it is much improved. I have learnt to "seperate" my lower body from my upper body, which is a bizaar concept. and I can almost always interpret a boleo alto and execute it with some grace.
I am yet to video my efforts. I have meant to for the last couple of days at class, but I am embarrased to ask. but today, I promise to try to pluck up the courage.
most importantly of all, I have made some lovely friends, friends that I hope to stay in touch with for a long time. and I have found some peace within me. and although I am still not entirely clear on the path that my life will take when I return home in just six weeks, I don't feel so afraid.
I feel like my time away has allowed me to get to know myself again, to find the Laura inside that over the past two years I could not always find. and you know what? it's great to get to know her again. I'd forgotten how much fun she can be!
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Friday, 3 June 2011
Thursday, 2 June 2011
almuerzo mezclado
today a Polish girl from England had Japanese food for lunch in Buenos Aires' Chinatown with an English friend from Australia.
random
random
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
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