latina incognito...

Have you ever cumbia'd? If you are a white girl from the city, the chances of you answering yes to this question are slim. Growing up in Dallas, cumbia was not really in my radar. I attempted, poorly might I add, to dance with a bit of "latina" flair while in Argentina and Costa Rica. Both attempts were absolute FAILS. Well, my time in Marfa has lead me to more than one opportunity to practice, and hopefully improve, my cumbia skills.

Basically, you just have to move with the music - follow the beat they said last night. Well, here's my thing: I have NO ability to follow and understand a beat. I spend so much time thinking about how silly and classically "gringa" I must appear to be that I can hardly focus on the task at hand: dancing. Last night I was at Padre's with a gang of lovely latina women. They have been cumbia'ing their entire lives - it comes naturally to them. I, on the other hand, avoid any dance that is "feeling the music" and not lead by a male's strong guidance. I just don't have that common ability to "feel" the music. So, after a brave viejo (old man for all you gringos out there...) asked me to dance, I suddenly experienced great anxiety! He did not seem to speak English, was older than my dad, an obvious natural, and was very stoic and upright. I, on the other hand, am told to be a "bouncy" dancer, love to talk to my dance partners...in English, and am NOT a natural. Poor guy - if only I knew how to warn him in Spanish... Well, it was a blast, of course. I stayed near my partner only because it would have been terribly rude and offense to walk off. I danced and got teased and laughed for the entire song - but, please note: one song in cumbia is a set of more like 3-4 songs. Great.

Either way, I had quite the experience last night. I was amongst my lovelier latina amigas who attempted to show me the ropes - how to be a Mexicana. Sadly, my disguise was not bought by anyone - everyone thought they needed to inform me that "Abby, you are so white!"...as if I didn't know? I need to keep practicing this art of being Mexican. Dance lessons and spanish speaking times are on the horizon for me. Knowing how to throw back Patron and drink Dos Equis just doesn't cut it in this town. Not if I really want to embrace the culture, that is...


Marfa means...dancing cumbia with old and sweaty men, taking shots with the older hotel employees, and going to an "after party" in a barn.