At Twilight Tango in Paris along the banks of the Seine Slightly bent over a silver head and a smile of gold, a diminutive, but the instructor remarkably passionate tango weave its way across the crowded dance floor, on the banks of the Seine. It loads smoothly than those who are concerned with guiding men and women through their paces with equal ease. She exudes experience and provides some security for tango dancers provisional. Although some are new, this is not a tango class or tourist hot spot. These are (mostly) local Parisians slip to tango tunes supplied by a boom box that sounds as if straight from a gramophone Argentina. Dancers of all ages to lock arms and slide down, confidently nailing the intricate steps, without losing a moment, and although scattered in age from teenagers to budding steppers money, types of dance rail thin clumsy chunky gentlemen, these dancers have one thing in common: a love of tango.
The music happens every night about half past seven and continues deep into the night on the left bank of the Seine at Quai Saint Bernard between Sully and the bridges of Austerlitz. The dances were created by an association called dances in Paris, Seine, and were put in place for 10 years. In total there are 12 associations and 22 organizers of the event night. While Tango dances have strong participation, there are several other dances together on the Quai Saint-Bernard, including Salsa with Cuban, Puerto Rican or Colombian varieties including The Rock and Rock-n-Roll, Lindy Hop and Swing Dance as well as dances of Brittany, which are traditional dances of Brittany, and others like Samba, Latin House, and even Brazilian Capoeira.
As the dancers arrive at their heels, bright, stylish jackets and skirts swirling, so do their fans, who with a stick required, cheese and wine in hand, sit on the steps of the semi-circle facing the river , and mixed in mixing with those brave enough to take a partner and tango all night. No partner? No problem. The Parisians shake hands and ask you to dance if you look interested. Otherwise, no pressure just look more interested in your rod and your status as a spectator rather than partaker is clear, and you're free to dine, drink and watch the dance along the Seine in the moonlight.
And if the night begins
Yes, they are very drunk teenagers behind you. And yes, these giant boats illuminated tower with screaming cries of Woo-Hoos increasingly intoxicated North Americans can be distracting. However, when the boat passes, they woo the tourist route Hoos well beaten becoming increasingly weak, readjust my sense of the pulse of the tango, and romantic moments that you share with returns to Paris.
As night progresses, the floor fills, and the lone tango instructor has less to teach. Instead, it allows pairs of dance forms naturally take the tango in their own hands. She beamed peacefully and playful with friends away, taking advantage of developments in the evening. Unlike most Paris parks that close at sunset, Tino Rossi Park, named after the Corsican singer and movie star, is open all night and it was midnight before the first signs of slowdown are emerging. It is as if it were a unique moment to seize, a special kind of tango flash-mob, and a visitor, it may be time for a romantic evening in Riverside Tango. But the boom box, the instructor and the crowd will meet again tomorrow, as is the tradition, and the young dancers age, and new converts will join, and the silver-haired instructor will teach and continue to be on the tango Quai Saint-Bernard.
Posted on February 19, 2010.
