By Chloe Ladd
Staff Writer
On the third Friday of each month, Carrboro’s Open Eye Café fills with loud tango music and a host of excited dancers. Café customers pause their conversations to look on while the group of tangueros turn their attentions to their instructor.
The instructor speaks for a short time before the dancers begin circling a makeshift dance floor on one side of the café, which will be occupied by novice and experienced dancers for the rest of the night.
Open Eye holds free tango classes open to the community once a month from 8 to 9 p.m., followed by milonga, or dancing, until 11:30.
Steven Keith, former president of Triangle Tango, instructed the lesson in July. He explained that there are different instructors each month, many of whom are recognized internationally. Professional tangueros from Tel Aviv, Montreal and Argentina have instructed classes in the past, and people travel great distances to participate in the milonga as well.
“Tango is part of a culture that’s very foreign to most people in Carrboro, so it’s a nice window into the Argentine way of life. We have a lot of Argentine people here,†Keith said.
The July class attracted 12 tango students of varying ages and levels of experience. Atefe Northcutt, for example, has been tango dancing for five years, while other students who attended had never danced before. One attendee said that he came to Open Eye with no knowledge of the tangolesson, but decided to join simply because it looked like fun.
Keith explained to his students that although tango is an Argentinian dance, its roots lie in African styles of movement. He proceeded to demonstrate a basic step, and guided them as they practiced with their partners. He emphasized the importance of communication, and periodically told students to switch partners, encouraging them to strike up conversations with strangers.
Some students said they came to the class to meet new people, while others said they enjoyed it because it enabled them to mingle with people of all ages.
“Tango is a very passionate dance, and very technical,†Northcutt explained. “The [tango] society is made up of very close people. They get to know each other and become a kind of family.â€
“It’s a great mix of people. A good group to hang out with,†Keith added. “Tango introduced me to my wife, and several people in the group met their wives and husbands dancing tango.â€
At 9 p.m., the lesson ended and many more experienced dancers joined the floor. The café became crowded with people who had come to drink, socialize and watch the milonga.
Keith said that he likes dancing at Open Eye because it has a uniquely social environment.
“There’s room to sit and have a cup of coffee and a drink of wine and talk to people. It’s much more of a mix of social and dancing than most of the places I go to. Most places, there’s just dancing, and there’s not much room to be sitting and talking, so that’s why I like this place.â€
“Come and join us!†Northcutt said, encouraging new dancers to come out. “It’s a fun way to get exercise and meet other people from the area.â€
“It’s very addictive, though,†Keith warned. “Once you start, it’s hard to stop!â€
For more information about monthly tango nights, including who will be instructing the next lesson, visit triangletango.com