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The plan of my first night was to dance a few hours at Cachirulo at El Beso, then move to Canning to meet some friends, and finish at La Viruta.

Earlier, Sebastian Arce and I had a very nice conversation about tango music, the dance and the beauty of it. It is an inspiring experience to talk about tango, to exchange ideas, not just to dance it, especially with an artist like Sebastian. It opens the mind.

I got to the El Beso at the beginning. The class was just finished. Music started a few minutes after. I got a nice seat, and next to me a guy from Germany. The entrance fee has gone up to 18 pesos, with the better exchange rate, the cost in dollar is roughly the same. But there weren’t too many locals there. Of course, Tete is now gone. When I passed the table he used to sit by the bar, I couldn’t help but remember him.

I spot a very good couple of Argentine dancers right from the beginning. They had danced about five six tandas together. Probably the best couple in the milonga the whole night. I spent most of the time watching them dancing and learning. And I thought to myself, I want to dance with her.

I began my night with an Italian to a Di Sarli tanda. She was ok, but I had showed myself by dancing with her.

A few tandas after, I cabeceoed the Portena who was sitting now. She smiled, nodded. But the woman who was sitting next to her also smiled at me. And the German guy sitting next to me thought they were cabeceoing him. Oops…He got up, while I remained seated. He approached to the Portena, who was looking away. The other woman was looking at my way. So he was standing there between two women who weren’t planning to dance with him. It was a funny scene.

To add more complication to the matter, another European guy saw the slightly embarrassing situation, and decided to save the night. He got up, went over and tried to ask one of them to dance. Two European guys now stand before two women, who had no intention to dance with either of them in the first place.

I was sitting there, entertained by the whole scene. The portena looked at my way. We were both amused, grinning. So I cabeceoed her again, nodded and got a nod back. I went up and got her on the floor, out of the situation while the two guys were left trying to figure out now who should dance with whom.

We had a very nice De Anglis tanda. The floor of El Beso was a bit too smooth for my liking. So I was a little inhibited. I thanked her after the tanda and thought to myself that I would love to dance with her again. I’d sat for an hour and avoided a few cabaceos, while listening to the orchestras that were playing.

I had another good tanda with a beautiful young Portena, who happened to have studied with Jorge Torres six or seven years ago. Then I left for Canning.

Canning was packed even at the wee hours. I met up with a few friends there, danced a few tandas with them. The floor was a mess. How could anyone enjoy dancing there? I had no idea. But it was a place to see and to be seen. And I loved the floor of Canning, just the right friction that I prefer.

The rest of the time, I was just mingling with acquaintances, friends, talking with Damian, the DJ a bit, and got to know a few new faces. By three, I was ready to leave, although the plan was going to la Viruta after. I didn’t want to exhaust myself on the first night. I had made my round. Now rest up for more great tangos in BsAs on Day 2.

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