It’s been a little over a month since my mother has passed. One of the many things i miss is her dancing. Unafraid to release all inhibitions, she ‘cut many a rug’.  Of any event this week mom would have loved to attend, it would be “Dancing Under The Stars” : a special evening presented by Chicago Dancing Festival in partnership with Chicago SummerDance.  Partnership is the theme of this event. A communal partnership. An intimate partnering. Mambo style!

Arriving a bit late, i was compelled to catch up on the ‘lesson’ being taught by Del Dominguez & –  his partner for this instruction – Laura Flores. note not Laura Flores, the acclaimed Mexican actress, but the equally charismatic co-founder of Mixed Motion Art: a space for dance & fitness.  Actress Flores (whose birthday happens to fall on the same day as this event, the 23rd) probably wishes she could Salsa, Mambo & Cha-cha as well as dancer Flores! 

Back to the lesson.  Throngs of folks peppered the specially-laid outdoor dance floor, eager to learn the ‘basic step‘.  The basic step in this case involves stepping forward on one foot, stepping back on another with some transitional lift of the feet between or as Del would count out  “1-2-3, 5-6-7”.  Singular at the moment, each person was assuredly focused on capturing the footwork.  All ages represented. All skill levels. All determined to get every nuance of the “1-2-3, 5-6-7”.  Even in their seats on the outskirts of the dance floor, people looked on and ‘moved’ with the dancers.

“How we doing?” Del asks to the community.  Smiles, giggles, some shaking or nodding of heads and further explorations of the step were the response.  In protocol with social dance forms, often one is taught first the ‘vocabulary’ or basic step, before the more intricate moves are added.  Sans music, he and Laura continued on to ‘coupling’.

Hands touching angled in the air.  Pressed not too tightly to allow for subtle shifts of body. Tipping with turns to be mastered. Men leading women. women with women. young girl leading younger girl. Women leading men in the men’s leading of women.  All embracing the directions of the lead teaching partners.  “Leading a partner…” Del advises is “less ‘swagga’, more attention to the person you are leading…. Be chill.” His smooth delivery of the next line undercuts its sting to the ego of some of the men ‘handling’ their female counterparts – “Not like you’re jumping rope”.  Furthermore, both he  & Laura offer that there will be time to “show off” later. To use your hips and add your own ‘flava’.   But for now “just flow.”

1-2-3, 5-6-7. the momentum of the steps pick up speed. and so does the intricacy of the partnering.  “1 of 3 things could happen…” Del cautions when instructing on how the man(leader) would turn themselves after guiding the woman(leadee).

1.  You could ‘break’ the shoulder.

2. Put your Butt into it {“Don’t do that!” Laura interjects}

0r 3.  Lower your hand.

#3 being the preferred option as long as you understand how to lower the hand, effectively releasing your partner’s hand; only to gracefully retrieve it and continue to Mambo.  Ironically, Del ‘tweaks’ his shoulder while working through each of these options. “All for  art” he quips, shrugging it off as they call out for “musica!”

“Earl” the “Maestro” slows down the tempo with a ‘Cha-cha’ inspired rhythm.  The instructors suggest that this is the entry way to the Mambo.  Soon the communal dancers will be able to “jazz it up!”. As the instruction comes to a close, the partners move methodically and sometimes mechanically through each ‘lesson’ of the hour.  An accomplished & beautiful communal exchange has occurred. Everyone who has been witness or dancer inside this experience has something to take away.  Del and Laura leave the platform. The dance floor clears out.  People move off to the side to partake in food or beverages, rest or persevere through the steps; hoping to get inspired by the dee-jay set that will take place momentarily.

During this transition, genderization of the partnering is eschewed in favor of  fun infused playfully-coupled dancing.   Lips pressed, one young woman, relentlessly practices with her female partner; finding the connection to the internal rhythm of the beat to the steps of her feet.  Incidental moments of heel tapping betray the connection, but she is determined. Others break from the moment by goofing off and mock dancing movement from other periods in time such as the ‘Jerk‘ or the ‘Robot‘.  An African contracted poly-rhythmic movement exchange happens not far from eyesight, while – gum in mouth- a flustered young woman still works to get the “1-2-3” of the Mambo.  Around her people picnic. Less cellphone than engaging one-on-one or group live conversations permeate  Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden.  Some choose to ‘catch up’ with each other and recollect on past ‘lessons’.

“It didn’t matter if you messed up”  Nikki points out.  A resident of  Auburn-Gresham, she brought her aunt tonite to share her love of “Latin music” and of course to dance.   Nikki got “hooked on dance” watching ‘Dancing With The Stars‘.  This is her 2nd time coming to SummerDance.  i ask if she has heard of the Chicago Dancing Festival and is met with an ‘of course’ look; schooling me on when and where the upcoming event  – Celebration of Dance – will be.

Rosie, Nikki’s aunt,  lives in Walnut California, famous for Disneyland…”well I am about 10 minutes away”.   She reminisces about dancing with her husband who has passed away some years ago…loving how they took cruises together and “made fools of [themselves] at the disco lounge.”  A moment passes. In my mind some tears release.  We take in the late comers to this event; though they may have missed the lessons, these people are ready to dance! With smoldering looks and summer crisp linens, one man saunters onto the floor, inviting  into this festive atmosphere  exciting coupled possibilities the evening shall bring.   The music  emerges and the dance floor is becoming alive again.  “She looks like she wore her salsa shoes [for this occasion] and dress” Rosie observes.   Before long, niece and aunt take to the floor and dance.  “1-2-3, 5-6-7” Who needs a ‘4’ or ‘8’ when you are enjoying being with each other as these two are.  i am reminded of my mother seeing them inside their joy.  Another moment passes. real tears are released.

For Paula –  one of the last people i encounter before heading back home – “there is no better backdrop than Michigan Avenue or being in good company” in speaking on why she came to ‘Dancing Under The Stars” or referring to co-worker and friend Ade; who sits and ‘fans’ her in between her dancing ‘shifts’.  It was lovely to capture Paula in her mambo glory, as a fitting exit to my time here.

The dancing was far from over. The night seeming to have just begun.  And the stars have yet to arrive.  i travel to my apt heart full of the treasured wonder  from witnessing the evolution of this dancing public; from just a basic step to meaningful and intimate partnering within an expansive communal force.

Back at my place, far from the crowd and my nervousness, i take my chance to dance the Mambo… in the quiet solitude, i speak the counts as instructed:

1-2-3, 5-6-7…1-2-3, 5-6-7…1-2-3, 5-6-7…one two three, five six seven…

part 2 of  The dance eclectic, the dancing electric part 1:Chicago Dancing Festival places the “Everyday Chicagoan” on a world class stage coming soon…