Danzarin and the Search for the Perfect Partner

VERSION FRANCAISE DISPONIBLE ICI

Danzarin wheeled her suitcase behind her, perspiring in spite of the cold.

– Relax, she told herself, you’re sweating like a beginner. Just follow the rhythm of each step. Walk and remember : tango is simply walking to music.

Finally reaching her car, she opened the boot and tried to lift up the suitcase. Impossible. The thing seemed to be nailed to the ground. She tried again. Same thing. What to do? She looked around, but saw no-one in the vicinity likely to give her a hand. Not a man to be seen, anyway. Taking deep breaths, she calmed herself.

– No man is no longer the problem. Draw your energy from the ground.

She breathed out again and somehow, almost magically this time, managed to lift the suitcase into the boot of the car. It made a muffled sound as it landed. She placed both hands flat on it, leaning forward, listening. Silence. She gave a smile of satisfaction.

Climbing into the driver’s seat, she started the car and was soon on her way. As she drove, she thought back over the closing of the case. He had said it himself :

– There’s a special hand gesture for closing the case. Without that gesture, the case won’t close.

She had watched, seen her opportunity and seized it! He had barely resisted and nobody even noticed. It had been one of the rare occasions when the music playing over the shop’s speakers had served some useful purpose. What was the name of that tune again? She had puzzled how to take him in her arms, all the while trying to remember that title. Then, suddenly, he yielded. Clack! Case closed. And just as suddenly the title had come back to her : Una música brutal. Gotan Project, of course.

She recalled his unexpected laughter. She never made anyone laugh as a rule. But he had laughed, doubled up in the middle of his sales performance. And seeing him doubled up with laughter, reduced to half his size, she knew what she had to do. With one single finger, she pushed him, and he fell backwards. The jaws of the suitcase did the rest, swallowing up the man, his laughter and his sense of surprise.

What had she said to make a man give in to her desires so easily?

He was smartly dressed. Apart from the yellow tie. Lemon yellow. A little over the top, but it was the tang of the lemon which had made her want to tango.

– Morning, Madam. Can I help you?

But she no longer needed help from anyone. There he was, out of the blue and dressed in lemon yellow, reminding her of someone she’d seen pass by on the dancefloor. A good dancer too. Someone with a comfortable, sensitive tango style. Everyone called him Julián. Had he even noticed her at all that evening? Of course not. Otherwise he’d have recognised her there in the shop. She was just another customer. So be it. This was her moment to lead the way.

– Well, you see, I have been dancing tango for some time now and I still haven’t found the right partner.

– Oh, you’re a tango dancer? What a coincidence! It so happens that I have been known to tango from time to time myself.

– I don’t remember dancing with you. But as one tango dancer to another, I’m sure you understand. I can’t keep on changing who I dance with anymore. I suppose I’m looking for the perfect partner. Someone who is all mine, and someone I also want to be with completely. Sadly, I now know that I won’t find that partner by hoping they’ll come to me. I know I’ll have to travel to them. Maybe far, maybe not. And to do that, I’ll definitely need a suitcase.

Rolling out a case from among those on display, Julián launched into his presentation. Click! A lovely opening followed by a series of fine moves, each one perfectly timed. With the occasional glance towards her, discreetly, invitingly, before closing once more. Clack! Fine moves. Ah yes, he certainly moved well. Then came a Click! And there was the opening once again. And the invitation. Almost playful.

– Each of our models requires a special hand gesture, when opening – Click! – and when closing – Clack! This attention to detail is the guarantee of unique quality which comes with all our models. And each case brings with it a sense of easy, effortless mobility. In fact, I believe I have exactly what you are after. If you are not only looking at price.

But he was all she could see. The price of the suitcase was now merely accessory.

– If you could just remind me exactly what it is you want this case for… Madam?

But Danzarin was already miles away. She had never liked these big department stores with too much space, most of it wasted. Such a lack of intimacy and voluptuousness. Even if there was more choice, unquestionably. She was looking for something the right size, broad-shouldered, and able to move well. Something elegant with just a hint of fantasy – like that yellow tie!

Then it happened. Her dreamy silence, so out of place in the conversation, brought a laugh to the face of the man in the tie. First his head went back, then, when it came forward again, he doubled up with laughter. Clack! Case closed.

Now she had what she wanted, she would have to pay, which meant the start of the usual friendly formalities with the young woman behind the counter.

– Hello there. How are you today?

– I’m good, thank you. I just want to pay.

– Did you find everything you wanted?

– Think so. It all seems perfect.

– Do you have an account with us, Madam?

– No, I don’t believe I do.

– Why not open one today? There’s no charge. And you will get an automatic extension to your guarantee.

– Another time.

– No problem. How did you want pay? Cash or card?

– Card.

– Let’s try contactless payment for the amount.

– Okay. But I may have gone a little over my limit with this purchase.

This was confirmed by the screen but, once her fingers had danced out her PIN code, all was well.

– Would you like me to look after your case while you continue to shop, Madam?

– I can handle this myself. Thank you.

Arriving home, Danzarin had no problem unpacking. Opening first the boot, then the case, releasing its contents. Julián was slightly wrinkled, of course, but he would definitely do.

He yawned, rubbed his eyes, straightened his tie and began searching through the various pockets in his jacket. Finally, he pulled out a piece of paper which he held out for her to take. Was it a poem? An etching? Her heart was beating faster and faster.

– The serial number of your case, Madam. For the guarantee. I believe I heard you say that you didn’t have a customer account with us. Remember to register your case on line.

As her fingers drew nearer to his, she felt the heat which passed between them. The paper caught fire. She stamped it out like a detail of no importance.

– No more Madam please, Julián. It’s Danzarin now and it’s my turn to invite.

They entered the house where all the furniture had already been pushed against the walls, turning the main room into a dancefloor.

Danzarin threw the keys in the ashtray and turned to face Julián, speaking with a determined voice.

– Are you more Traditional or more Neo ?

He looked at her intensely before answering.

– Each style has its own moves. Opening moves, closing moves. But the basics are unchanged : listening to the music, listening to your partner. That way, each style brings with it a sense of easy, effortless mobility.

He would have to drop that teacher-tone with her. Still a typically male tendancy. But, behind the words, she could sense the presence of a dancer with an open mind. So they would need a tango which was innovative but which had not forgotten the things learnt from tradition.

She spoke to the room.

– Alexa ? Play Danzarin by the Anibal Troilo Orchestra.¹

– The1963 recording?

– Yes, Alexa. Obviously.

First came the moves of the musicians. Danzarin is a tango of near perfection composed by Julián Plaza which, in this version, begins with a musical opening played by the violins, answered by Osvaldo Berlingieri’s piano, followed by Anibal Troilo’s bandoneon which takes the whole orchestra into the tune.

The moves of the dancers followed. The music eased open the arms of the man and the woman as they leaned gently together, followed by a moment of motionlessness, Danzarin and Julián listening one to the other, unhurried, then gently beginning to walk. A new couple, walking in time to the music. Together.

Note

1. To hear Danzarin played by the Anibal Troilo Orchestra from1963, click HERE. ↩︎