Held in a grand ballroom, well, really The Community Center at The St. Jean Baptiste Church @ 184 East 76th Street, but let’s indulge our imaginations here, the Gala Celebration of “Tertulias (meaning “social gathering” in Spanish) de Tango” was a fantastic, energetic and ultimately, most entertaining evening, a great success due largely to Mr. Giorgio Finocchiaro, director and tango dancer extraordinaire. The gala marked the first anniversary celebration of tango lessons and dance held each Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm at The Community Center by Mr. Finocchiaro and the world renowned dance teacher, Ms. Alicia Cruzado.

It’s the Upper East Side’s best kept secret: a night of dancing, socializing and making new friends while getting your juices flowing again, old school. You’ll experience a throwback to the days when dance was a passionate and celebrated form of art. What a great way to exercise your physical and social self - to the spicy sounds of tango! Go with a partner or go alone, you’ll be sure to partner up there.

After arriving early and being greeted and welcomed by the evening’s host Mr. Finochiarro, and not knowing exactly what to expect, I take my position as fly on the wall in a chair in the corner of the room. It is one of many chairs that line the expansive hardwood dance floor. “Perhaps wishful thinking,” I think to myself. To my right and at the far end of the room, hors d’ oeuvre and cocktail tables have been set up. Diagonally across the floor from me is the band area with grand piano and to the right of that are the main doors. From these doors, the first comfortably yet surprisingly elegantly dressed couple makes their way into the room, soon followed by similar pairings. The trend continues until there are now maybe twenty or so enthusiasts milling about, greeting each other, some like old friends, others braving the dance floor for a few warm-up steps. The action begins to heat up a bit to the music, partners switching partners, new people continuing to arrive, now numbering 50 or 60 or so, all of varying ages, nobody not having now taken the floor at least once, swishing and swaying across the smooth, blond hardwood. The room is taking on life as a pretty woman in a pretty red chiffon dress flops into a chair next to me to catch her breath, but only for a moment as another suitor asks for her hand in dance, her dance card apparently a popular one. They glide back into the mix as another young woman approaches. “No, I’m not Jorge,” I reluctantly reply to her inquiry. Roz (I’m eavesdropping now) takes a seat next to me and is quickly followed by Ruthie who comments to Roz, “I love your fishnets!” Ruthie introduces Roz to Walter. He is a beginner. He’s maybe seventy. The three make their way to the hors d’ oeuvre and cocktail tables.

It’s now 7:30 (an hour has somehow passed?) and Giorgio takes the mike. He welcomes the throng (easily over 100 people by now) and proudly announces the honoring of the first anniversary of Tertulias de Tango. Now, barely being heard over the loud cheers and applause, he introduces Mr. Tito Castro and his band. The music starts and the floor immediately buzzes. Yet more people make their entrance. A giddy young couple twirl just passed me, not to be outdone by a handsome older pair at their heels. A tall man in a brown jacket stands at the edge of the floor and eyes a demure woman in black. He swoops in for her hand and carries her off. Laughter and chatter mingle with the lively, spicy melodies in the air. Unbelievably, more people continue to enter and now it’s a full-blown party.