After the madness of the Barcelona event, I promised myself a few quiet days. So naturally, I ended up hopping on a train to Sitges on a random Thursday. Because that’s how I rest, apparently.
Sitges is like Barcelona’s chilled-out, slightly eccentric cousin. You’ve got the beaches, the pretty streets, the old whitewashed buildings, and that relaxed vibe that makes you want to slow everything down. It was exactly what I needed: no big plans, no schedule, just me, the sea, and a slightly absurd amount of coffee.
Of course, being me, it didn’t take long before dance found me anyway.
I was sitting at a small café near the promenade when I heard live music coming from a tiny square a few streets away. Curiosity kicked in, and ten minutes later I stumbled into a small open-air milonga — an impromptu Argentine tango gathering, complete with locals gliding across a makeshift dance floor under fairy lights. Totally unplanned. Totally perfect.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit: tango is not my strongest suit. I’ve dabbled, sure — enough to know how hard it is — but I’d never call myself a proper tanguero. Still, the music was pulling at me. After a bit of back-and-forth with myself (“Don’t embarrass yourself, Jean-Luc.” / “Oh, come on, who cares?”), I finally stepped in.
And that’s the magic of these moments. You dance with strangers who gently adjust to your level, you smile through little missteps, and you get completely lost in that silent conversation unique to tango. One of my partners, an older woman named Marta, whispered halfway through: “Relax, you’re doing fine — just listen.” Solid life advice, honestly.
Afterward, a few of us ended up chatting at the bar nearby, swapping dance stories over glasses of cava. Turns out half of them had seen the Barcelona event online but hadn’t been able to make it. Small world. The community feels smaller every week.
It’s funny. You think you’re taking a break from dance, but dance has other plans. And I’m not complaining.
Let’s dance!
