tango el corte first time

THORSTEN 215 times since 1998

I'd like to tell you my little story, which differs from the stories so far, as I came to El Corte as an absolute beginner and not as an experienced tanguera or tanguero venturing new places.

My first encounter with El Corte and 'El Eric' starts at the phone:
I could just drop by, have a look around, preferably on a Friday night, try-out lessons would be within a months time, no partner - no problem. Eric asks me how I have heard of El Corte and I tell him that two friends of mine from Germany have recommended it independently. To my surprise Eric even remembers one of them - " ... but it's been a couple of years ago, right?" - Right. At this point I wonder if El Corte is a regular dancing school. It is either rather small (still remembering occasional guests after years...) or something extra-special.

At my first visit to El Corte on the next Friday night I sense, I'm in for something extra-special. This is definitely not the seventies look of dancing schools trying to be welcoming but failing terribly. This is a cozy sitting room, with friendly people all around. There is some interesting, dusty music playing with so much rhythm, sentiment, joy and melancholy all at the same time. There is a certain scent there, which I still cannot describe adequately, although I have savoured it so many times since.

I sit by the dance floor and watch the pairs dance by. I remember clearly that I am a little disturbed by the sound of shuffling feet, almost as loud as the music. (This seems very odd to me now, as I don't hear anything of it now anymore. Maybe it is the same effect, of someone who lives close to an airport or the rails - if you hear it often enough, you get used to it and it doesn't disturb you anymore.) I see men and women doing wonderful things on the dance floor. I see gorgeous women moving gracefully over the dance floor, competently led by men and I know - I also want to do just that. And pronto ... I cannot wait. Tango got me right there.

About two years have gone by now and I actually do what I was craving for: I dance with all these gorgeous women and it feels even better than I thought it would, looking on at my first visit. El Corte has become my sitting room but also a 'workshop' - an exiting place to work on myself.
I am very grateful indeed to Eric and all the others, who have been making that possible.