3662 Randy Does Rio, Part 7
Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2005 17:18:11 -0700
From: randy cook <randycook95476@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Randy Does Rio, Part 7
"La Argentina"
Sunday night milonga at the Rio Copa Hotel. A couple
of hours of tango and the houselights go up. Bobby
Cunha, the host, makes some announcements, then
invites Luciana, "La Argentina," to dance a samba for
the guests.
This invitation comes as a complete surprise to
Luciana, who has been whispering to the other women at
her table during Bobby`s announcements. She looks
like she has just swallowed a fishbone. Her eyes
bulge. She looks around in panic, puts her fingers to
her throat, mouths the word "me?" People start to
whistle, clap, stamp their feet.
Luciana is a tango dancer, not a sambista. She
teaches a technique class for women, performs with
Paulo, and has a playful, mischievous style. I danced
with her once, not knowing. I led a turn, and she
just kept turning and turning until I literally had to
block her body to get her to stop. Then she led me in
a turn around her.
Bobby Cunha, who can be mischievous too, evidently
wants to see if this woman from Buenos Aires has
picked up any samba since moving to Rio with her
French/Brazilian husband. From the way she is acting,
I think she has not.
It takes two men to drag Luciana onto the floor. Even
then she manages to break away and has to be
recaptured. But Bobby is still smiling as he puts a
paternal arm around her shoulder and waves to the DJ
to start the music. Luciana has stopped trying to
escape, but her mouth is still forming the word "no!"
and the fright on her face seems genuine. I don't
think this is going to work.
Her first partner is a postcard Brazilian samba
dancer--dark curly hair and a bright yellow shirt.
Luciana looks like she's going to cry. He has a swift
sparkling lead. She follows as listlessly as a rag
doll, but she follows. Somebody whistles.
Her second partner is a skinny black man with
sideburns and a suit. Luciana rouses herself a bit,
moves her hips. Nothing much, just a wiggle, but just
right. Someone shouts "Go!"
Her third partner is Bobby himself, who, besides
tango, does every other dance known in Rio, from
gafieira and forro, to salsa, swing, and samba a pe.
Luciana is warmed up now. The pretence of protest is
over, and she's dancing like a Carioca--nothing showy,
nothing stagy, just good social samba.
A few bars before the samba ends, Bobby casts her into
the center of the floor, steps away, and lets her
finish dancing on her own, Carnival style. The house
lights go down, then flash back up. Luciana is
running back to her seat, hiding her face in her
hands. The audience is on its feet, roaring with
approval.
She stops running, takes a little bow, starts throwing
kisses. And by the time her three partners have
dragged her back to the dance floor, La Argentina is
hugging and kissing everyone in sight.
