La
Rumba 130 NW 3rd Ave., 279-1588
Open 11:30 am-3 pm Mondays, 11:30 am-midnight Tuesdays-Wednesdays,
11:30-2 am Thursdays-Fridays, 4 pm-2 am Saturdays, 2-10 pm
Sundays.
Salsa, merengue and casino dance classes (7-9 pm Tuesdays-
Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30 pm Thursdays, 9-9:30 pm Fridays) are
followed by open dancing.
On assignment to check out the sizzling dance scene at La
Rumba, our trio of neophytes infiltrates the cozy Old Town
nightclub on a pre-Christmas evening with every intention
of merely observing. Mr. Salsa's greeting bursts through our
protective bubble: "OK! OK! Here we go!" His hands clapping,
the ebullient Mr. Salsa begins our initiation into the world
of salsa. The vibe is as unabashedly welcoming as our ambassador.
"Feliz Navidad" decorations, a parrot and a palm tree embellish
the white wrap-around balcony. Ceiling fans and the aroma
of Caribbean food transport us to more tropical climes. Multi-hued
disco lights stud the hardwood dance floor and surrounding
tables. On the balcony, a hip-shakin' DJ spins a hot selection
of nonstop salsa and merengue.
On the dance floor, a twentysomething couple moves with
impressive agility around the small dance floor, flashing
slick salsa steps, one-handed hair combs and intricate arm
weaves. The girl does a back flip over the guy's arm. Reassuring
ourselves that the pair must be instructors performing a
post-lesson exhibition, we opt for a drink to loosen our
inhibitions. Serendipitously, a sign over the bar reads
"Sexy Drinks." Armed with La Bomba or El Viagra
from the drink menu, who wouldn't feel like a Mambo Queen?
Drinks aren't the only sexy thing at La Rumba on dance
nights. Women obviously know how to translate the Spanish
salsa (literally, "sauce") into a hot fashion sense: variations
on the colors red and black with an overriding fit--tight.
The imperative question of how to move in pencil-thin stilettos
is answered by a halter-clad dancer who executes stylin'
whiplash moves and leg kicks and never lets her heels touch
the floor. From the cuddle position to the dip, the men
are all about droppin' science on sexy showmanship. The
faster the rhythm, the smaller and more intricate the footwork,
which sends hips rollin' and skirts flyin'. A couple of
men pay homage to their partners by dropping to their knees
mid-dance. Our table is riveted.
Since the dance floor still isn't crowded enough to hide
behind, we are conspicuously exposed. But Mr. Salsa is undeterred
by our inhibitions. Pen in hand, I try to stall him with
academic questions while I suck down as much of my sexy
elixir as possible: "So, what kind of dance are they doing?"
Like a sage master schooling an apprentice, Mister Salsa
accommodates my ignorance with gusto and gets to the point:
"There are at least 10 kinds of salsa. You don't need to
know salsa! You just feel the music!"
Five minutes later I'm on the dance floor, following Mr.
Salsa in the Electric Slide. The impromptu lesson quickly
progresses to spins and their deceptively simple variations,
inside and outside. After limited success, Mr. Salsa leaves
me for a more talented partner. On the beat, he performs
a James Brown midair split while touching his toes.
Curiously, my incompetence does not deter potential partners
from approaching our table. My companions and I are swept
into the growing crowd by a series of smooth and forgiving
partners who teach us the most vital dance lesson of the
evening: A skilled leader can make anyone look good. Intoxicated
by a rapid succession of spins, I stop looking at my feet
and start attempting flashy freestyles and underarm holds.
A suave dancer named Alberto flatters me with the ultimate
compliment/come-on: "You don't dance like an American."
Exhausted, I return to a dish of seasoned yuca,
courtesy of La Rumba owner Aquiles Montas. Montas, who hails
from the Dominican Republic, has been operating the restaurant
and club for the past year and a half. While he confided
that he's looking for a larger space (on weekend nights,
the club attracts up to 300 people), it's difficult to imagine
another location with the intimate charm of this one. The
hospitable Montas invites us back later in the week when
Buena Vista Social Club members Barbarito Torres y su Piquete
(Torres' nine-piece band) are scheduled to make an appearance
at La Rumba after their concert at the Aladdin Theater.
I accept his invite and return the night of the concert
to find that news of the after-hours show had traveled fast.
Inside it was packed--and there were plenty of people watching
from outside La Rumba's big picture windows.
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Willamette Week | originally
published January 5,
1999
|
