Friday night I attended a Tango dance performance, Vibrations of the Soul, put on by Tango by the River.

The dimly lit theater at Sierra 2 Center was filled with friends, families and dance enthusiasts, the kind of people who watch “So You Think You Can Dance” or “Dancing with the Stars” and view themselves as professional judges.

The stage was simple, without many props, except for a streetlight or a table or two. The images on the projector screen in the background set the scene for the story told by the Spanish-speaking narrator, Ernesto Rassi, who also was the theater director. He opened the performance with a powerful poem that laid the foundation for tango’s origins from an Argentine’s perspective, “Don’t call me a foreigner.”

The dancers varied in experience -- some were students, while others were professionals, all shared a love for tango. The dances incorporated different styles: abrasive, soft, delicate, but all very passionate and celebrations of Argentina’s culture. Each dance told a story, such as a celebrated birthday, fighting over a woman, and Independence Day.

The dance “Milonga Gol” was a tribute to Argentina’s “futbol” team, which was appropriate for the first day of the World Cup.

The best performance was “Ojos Negros”, danced by two talented dancers Alisa and Mike Bohan. Their passion was obvious, illustrated by the pulling and leaning of the dance.

Rassi, a singer, dancer and theater director, was present throughout the performance. He was able to portray tango’s transition from a dance of the lower-class neighborhoods to one of global popularity, which gave the audience a musical history lesson. I exited the theater twirling and trying fancy footwork, bitten by the tango bug.