Brighton & Hove's Tango Bootcamp

The shoes didn't work too well. The soles weren't
slippy and I couldn't pivot.

It was fun, for the most part, with sympathetic, professional guidance.

But...


What - exactly - is all this preoccupation with hugging people en masse, especially when you don't know them from Adam?

Don't get me wrong. I'm as huggy and loving and warm as the next person. But, there's hugging - and then there's hugging.
Last evening I went with a friend to learn to tango. Nice hall, friendly people, and we all stood in a circle and grinned rather warily at each other. The couple running the class were clearly experts. All was fine, until I suddenly realised that, yes, this guy was telling me to move around the circle, anti-clockwise, and give each man an enormous hug. And I mean a real, bosom-bashing hug. In effect, this was to prepare us for changing partners while learning to dance the tango.

I panicked. I hyperventilated. My palms were getting hot and sweaty and I contemplated diving for the door and vanishing from this embarrassing ordeal. But I looked at my friend and he seemed pretty threatened too. We hugged. That was okay. We've known each other about five years and have hugged before.

"I don't want to do this," I groaned as I moved to the first male stranger in the circle.

Am I repressed or something? I don't really think so, as dancing with any of those men would have been okay, they were all nice, presentable guys.

But being told you HAD to hug everyone, one after the other, well, it's just so darned contrived. I don't do contrived.

I got through it - somehow - and as I've signed for the course, I suppose I'll have to do it again. I think I'll just turn up a bit late when all the jolly-hockey-sticks hugging is over and done with.

What's wrong with shaking hands?

The Bootcamp

The bootcamp takes place at the Ralli Hall opposite Hove Station on Mondays and at the Latest Bar in Brighton on Wednesdays. Google it if you want details. I'm not posting them as I can't guarantee how long they will be accurate.