Argentine Tango wore off, but it made a rousing comeback – bigger than ever – with a popular Broadway show: “Tango Argentino.”
This time, it appears, its appeal will be lasting.

Gloria

Around that time, two notable events occurred: one in particular that would change my life forever.
I was approaching forty, a confirmed (I thought) bachelor, but Gloria would have none of it.

We met in 1963 at (where else)? Roseland.
To commemorate the event our names were added to the bronze plaque in the ballroom’s lobby, honoring all the married couples who met there, dating back to 1919.
Whenever I entered the lobby, I always stopped to read the walled inscription – perhaps with the thought it was all a mistake:
Gloria and Walter Darian – 1966
Kidding Gloria, one time, I said: “…It’s like reading my own epitaph.”

A mambonik, Gloria preferred the Palladium – as opposed to Roseland which was too square for her.
On the night in question, she was there with a friend just to meet me.
“…I know a nice, straight, square guy you might be interested in,” she was told.
Now Gloria was more comfortable with the “sharp hipsters” and incredulously asked: “Square…Roseland? Are you kidding”?
Recalling that night, I found her very easy to dance with, her slender, “rhythmic,” dancer’s body blending perfectly with mine – along with an uncanny sense of rhythm, par excellence, I thought: maybe dance team…?
Still I wasn’t looking…

She was just another attractive girl, pre-maturely grey with that great body, only twenty-nine years old, a divorcee with two little girls.
Today, with her snow white hair and a “nip ‘n tuck” here and there, she’s beautiful.
I may not have been looking…but it didn’t matter – Gloria was.
In the months that followed we were, as they say, “an item,” I had put a ring on her finger, but…wasn’t ready for the final step.

Because she was, and still is, such a success in sales, we never became a dance team, which is a shame, because we could have been an exceptional team.
Like all loquacious people, she’s undeterred, even after making an intemperate remark confident she can “right” things; for example:

One Sunday, I was engaged to teach at a mid-town hotel for the Dance Masters of America (DMA). It was getting late…I kept urging her to hurry, but to no avail.
In the car, knowing we would be late, I reproached her for her lack of consideration.
“Oh, what are you worrying about,” she pooh poohed, “I’ll talk to him, and when I finish, I’ll have him apologizing to you.” That’s how confident she is.

Her independence eventually caused us to separate. However, we love each other dearly, yet we cannot live together.

As I write this, we have been separated for seventeen years; even so, she will remain my wife for the remainder of my life – she feels the same way.
I have a loving relationship with my daughters, Lori and Patty (I never referred to them as my step-daughters). We are family.

Gloria and Lori are in the weight loss business with four clinics in Brooklyn, Queens and New Jersey.Their company name, which Gloria founded twenty years ago, is a catchy “Weight…no more.” How about that for a poor kid from Brighton Beach.

End part 4

Part 5

Tere

Married, and “captive” to my studio, I was no longer able to “get around” – I missed Roseland.
On Thursdays, however, I was able to take an afternoon respite from my fourteen-hour, seven-day studio operation.It was there that I met Tere.

I was well acquainted with the “matinee” crowd, but one “new” red-head – a Debbie Reynolds look-alike – caught my eye.
Caught my eye indeed…! Hell, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Seated with friends, I asked, “who is she, what’s her name?”
“Oh that’s Tere,” was the reply.

I continued to watch wondering if she could dance as well as she looked.
The set over, she headed for the single seats behind the rail. Great I thought, she’s alone. Quickly, I followed reaching her with extended hand before she sat down.
Modesty aside, by that time, most of the dance world knew of me.“Care to dance?” I asked, not expecting to be refused. She smiled, accepted my hand and we walked to the floor.

Argueso, the Latin band was into a mambo.
“I’m not much of a mambo dancer,” she said defensively.
“Don’t worry, with the right help you’ll learn,” I assured her, making it clear that I was theright help.
Again she smiled.
“Uh, you’re Tere.”
“Yes,” she replied instantly, adding “and you’re Walter Darian,” making me feel ten feet tall.
We then settled down to dance…

After the mambo, Argueso swung into a tango. A moving dance, she was in her element. Very light, with excellent timing, she followed flawlessly. The set over, I held onto her in eager anticipation for the American set, (she wasn’t going anywhere.)

Her lindy (Savoy) was great, followed by the waltz and peabody. The foxtrot and how well she pivots, would be the determining test. Well, she passed with “flying colors.”

After the set, we took a table and talked. I knew I had “struck gold,” now the question was – would she be interested?

Well, as it turned out, she agreed to give it a shot. When I asked about her dancing background, she admitted that she was untrained, never had a lesson, but she didn’t say it in that boastful manner that turns teachers off.

She had great natural ability, but was totally lacking in technique. She also had a lot going for her: intelligence, attitude and determination. She was one of those rare individuals who responded well to the grueling, drudging technique of stepping correctly.

Having Tere for a partner was important to me. I discovered early in my career that I had a talent for choreography; that I work best with creations of my own.

A tireless worker, Tere rarely questioned me, which was a testament to her intelligence. I was her teacher, coach and mentor. With such an attitude, she quickly developed into a “top” all-around professional. When we were ready for our first show, we were “equal” partners in every respect of the word.

There is no question that we were one of the top teams on the “Studio Circuit,” but did not receiver “full recognition” because we performed only twice outside of the studio – once at a rival studio and another at Roseland.

Performing at Roseland, in front of a full house, with our names on the glittering marquee, was the “highlight” of our career as a dance team.
There is no question in my mind that we could have – should have – achieved more, butchance and circumstance prevented it.

Now in the twilight of my years, I cannot help but think of these compelling words that sum up my star/crossed life: “These are the saddest of possible words – what might have been.”

Tere was the greatest partner I ever had and remains, one of the three women that I dearly loved, the third, I’ll tell you about in a later story.

End part 5

For part 6 & 7please click here


© *This story and others to follow are excerpts from my first book “Diary of a Street Dancer.” My email number for anyone interested in a copy is: wdarian23@att.net

30-Sep-2010