Portland's tango scene kicked up a notch with the tango nights at the North Star, but this weekend just beat all other tango events I've ever attended. Saltwater Tango was fabulous. I can't even explain how fabulous, but I got to play the violin every morning while looking out over the bay, got to rock the house with the band on Saturday night, got to dance up a storm, and got to spend an hour and a half helping a bunch of musicians sound like tango musicians...and then segue into a superfun rendition of "Sweet Child of Mine", played by 2 violins, bass, clarinet, guitar, and 2 accordions. Wicked good. The location was gorgeous, and the people? As A. remarked, where else can you get muddy playing stupid beach games, jam with other musicians, eat an amazing dinner, and then dance all night...all with the same people? And Sunday night's White Party, complete with black lights, glow-stick jewelry, and fabulous music confirmed that PortTango dancers totally know how to party. At one point I thought, suddenly I feel like I'm at the Hollywood version of a middle school dance, only everybody actually knows how to dance and we're all nice to each other and we're all dancing in close embrace and there are no chaperones! Yessah.
Home now, looking forward to washing off several days of sand, salt, sweat, and sunblock (30 people tenting and 1 shower...) but totally happy. School tomorrow.