Date:    Sat, 11 Sep 2004 11:10:26 +1200 
From:    Robert <bob.ramsey-turner@QUICKSILVER.NET.NZ> 
Subject: Sweet Francesca, wherefore art thou? 
  
In March this year, sitting with friends in the corner where the 
orchestras play at Salon Canning, BsAs, watching the dancing and 
discussing the styles of the passing dancers, not really looking for a 
dance, when eye contact was made with a lady sitting at the next table. 
Questions asked and answered.  
  
Francesca,  (Argentinean) is a tall wiry, graceful lady, short curly 
grey hair, not an ounce of fat on her, I’m sure she will never see her 
70th birthday again. 
I’m not running this lady down, far from it. There was, and I’m sure 
still is, something special about her, she must have been a stunner in 
her youth. 
  
Not a word was spoken as we stood opposite each other on the crowded 
floor.  Sure I know about the proper moves to take when entering the 
embrace, but we don’t always do it, do we?  
  
We stood, perhaps half a metre apart, eyes met, she passively waiting, 
but somehow or other with her body language and the exchanged, passed 
information I didn’t feel free to just step forward to the embrace. 
  
For a moment or two, at a loss for what to do next, maybe, I’m not sure 
how or why, but I raised my left hand, then slowly turned my head and 
looked at my raised open hand. Then turning back again to Francesca, she 
never broke the eye contact but slowly raised her right hand and with 
the lightness of a feather landing, placed her hand in mine, rested it 
there for a moment, then gave it a tiny squeeze. 
  
We embraced; she locked herself onto my chest. It would have taken a 
crowbar to separate us.  The quality of her dance raised the quality of 
mine, these are rare and precious moments. When the music stopped, our 
feet were in the parada position, my right on the outside of her left, I 
felt the slightest change in her weight, then the pressure of her right 
foot as she had crossed behind and trapped my foot between hers. 
  
Dancing with Francesca, was the most “Full On” tango experience I have 
ever had, if that lady lived her life the way she tangoed then it would 
be, a most brilliant and beautiful life. 
  
After the tanda was over, I suggested to my friend he also danced with 
Francesca, which he did, with the same result. WOW! 
  
Every Milonga we went to over the next few days, we looked for her, but 
after about a week she had gone, not without leaving her mark 
  
Thanks Francesca, wherever you are. 
  
  
Robert Ramsey-Turner 
  
  
--- 
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Date:    Fri, 10 Sep 2004 18:56:21 -0600 
From:    Edmundo <erueda1@ELP.RR.COM> 
Subject: Re: Sweet Francesca, wherefore art thou? 
  
Francesca is still there!  I danced with her and still do in my dreams.  She 
is the essence of Tango Argentino and the way the minas of Buenos Aires 
dance. 
  
Mundo 
----- Original Message -----  
 
 
 
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 5:10 PM 
Subject: [TANGO-L] Sweet Francesca, wherefore art thou? 
  
  
In March this year, sitting with friends in the corner where the 
orchestras play at Salon Canning, BsAs, watching the dancing and 
discussing the styles of the passing dancers, not really looking for a 
dance, when eye contact was made with a lady sitting at the next table. 
Questions asked and answered. 
  
Francesca,  (Argentinean) is a tall wiry, graceful lady, short curly 
grey hair, not an ounce of fat on her, I’m sure she will never see her 
70th birthday again. 
I’m not running this lady down, far from it. There was, and I’m sure 
still is, something special about her, she must have been a stunner in 
her youth. 
  
Not a word was spoken as we stood opposite each other on the crowded 
floor.  Sure I know about the proper moves to take when entering the 
embrace, but we don’t always do it, do we? 
  
We stood, perhaps half a metre apart, eyes met, she passively waiting, 
but somehow or other with her body language and the exchanged, passed 
information I didn’t feel free to just step forward to the embrace. 
  
For a moment or two, at a loss for what to do next, maybe, I’m not sure 
how or why, but I raised my left hand, then slowly turned my head and 
looked at my raised open hand. Then turning back again to Francesca, she 
never broke the eye contact but slowly raised her right hand and with 
the lightness of a feather landing, placed her hand in mine, rested it 
there for a moment, then gave it a tiny squeeze. 
  
We embraced; she locked herself onto my chest. It would have taken a 
crowbar to separate us.  The quality of her dance raised the quality of 
mine, these are rare and precious moments. When the music stopped, our 
feet were in the parada position, my right on the outside of her left, I 
felt the slightest change in her weight, then the pressure of her right 
foot as she had crossed behind and trapped my foot between hers. 
  
Dancing with Francesca, was the most “Full On” tango experience I have 
ever had, if that lady lived her life the way she tangoed then it would 
be, a most brilliant and beautiful life. 
  
After the tanda was over, I suggested to my friend he also danced with 
Francesca, which he did, with the same result. WOW! 
  
Every Milonga we went to over the next few days, we looked for her, but 
after about a week she had gone, not without leaving her mark 
  
Thanks Francesca, wherever you are. 
  
  
Robert Ramsey-Turner 
  
  
--- 
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. 
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (https://www.grisoft.com). 
Version: 6.0.735 / Virus Database: 489 - Release Date: 6/08/2004 
  
  
 
    
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