De España.

He pulled out his map to show me where he was living temporarily. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh so you are a tourist!!" laughing, I ended it with "That's so cute!"

His shaved head shined in the light of the club, his grey t-shirt sculpting his rock-hard abs and jeans tied together with a black belt. A classic look that almost anyone can pull off. Some people just look drop dead gorgeous in it.

After showing me the intersection, I quickly put two and two together and realized how close he was to everything up north in the city of Chicago in Lincoln Park. He showed me how long he walked today as we sat down away from the ruckus of the mix of Latin and American beats. Nacional 27 was a common spot that my friends and I chose to dance in, and when I saw him dancing, I walked right up and asked him if he could teach me. Each time he showed me a different step, my clumsy self ended up laughing because I knew I could never get to the point where this man was. He seriously knew how to dance.

Stepping away from my friends, I continued to dance with him, attempting to learn bit by bit, with his hands guiding me as I kept stepping a little off (or a lot...haha) and then he would pull me in closer to feel the beat closer to his body.

Even while we danced, the conversation continued to flow. And the times that were silent were filled with the mix of Spanish and English, conversations picked up around us, drunken couples making out, and the loud sound of heels squashing the toes next to us. With drinks spilling and the night getting later, I realized how little alcohol I had consumed and yet, I still felt loose and comfortable dancing.

Most of my friends would say that's pretty normal for me. I've never been afraid to dance to my own rhythm. With salsa though, it's hard to fake. Especially with someone who looked like they'd been practicing for a long time. I learned later he danced professionally. Way out of my league.

I'd tried to dance with another dancer I'd eyed earlier in the evening. After missing a few steps, he introduced himself "I'm Alex, and your name?" I knew my dancing session was over when his hand slipped into mine as a handshake and there was no pull into a spin. For some people, there is no patience to teach dancing. Either you got it, or you don't.

I've always wanted to learn how to dance salsa. Like, really learn. I aquired some knowledge when I took free lessons at the non-profit language school that I went to in Guatemala. And, with people who know nothing, I can actually be a relatively good teacher. But, of course both an amateur and a professional can always learn new tricks. The idea that we're too good for certain things should always be de-bunked by the next person who swoops in with a great idea or a better business model, or in this case, a better rhythm and style. Tourist from Spain knew salsa, plain and simple. I always have to remember that we're here to learn, rather than compare and judge or feel upset.

In this case, my teacher was someone I didn't expect to actually take on the project. Regardless of my horrible two-left-feet, the tourist continued to dance with me. He had patience to try again and when I got frustrated and laughed it away, he actually stopped trying so hard. Gave me time to just sway or be silly and do my white girl dance moves with my tongue sticking out.

Now I know I'm not a sore sight for the eyes, but I think this Spanish guy got a chance to show me the beauty of salsa and its complexity. There never is just one way to do it. While I watched him pick up the next beat and begin to move his body to it, I was in awe of how different each movement was and how differently it was implemented. Giggling filled the air when I saw what a challenge it was. I usually laughed because I imagined myself trying it and how ridiculous I would look. But this guy in front of me gracefully and respectfully moved my own body and his own without a faulty step.

He reassured me, whispering in my ear, "It takes 20 years to get this good at salsa."

Thanks Mr. Spaniard. I'll keep trying. I'll probably need the whole 20 years.

#tourist #Spain #salsa #España #dancing