US President Barack Obama dances tango during a state dinner hosted by Argentina's President Mauricio Macri at the Centro Cultural Kirchner. (Reuters Photo)
State dinners can be staid. But not on Wednesday, when US President Barack Obama, on a visit to Argentina, was game for a go at tango -- with a pro, no less.
At the dinner in Buenos Aires with Argentine President Mauricio Macri, Obama and his wife, Michelle, watched with rapt attention as a male and female pair glided and turned in graceful precision across a small patch of open floor in front of their table.
Willing to give it a try, the president got up and sashayed from one side of the tiny space to the other with the female dancer, while the US first lady teamed up with her male counterpart for a spell.
Looking relaxed practicing a few steps with dancer Mora Godoy, while his wife First Lady Michelle Obama gave it a whirl with dancer Jose Lugones, the Obamas held their own on tango's home turf.
The US president "was telling me he didn't know how to dance (tango)", Godoy said. "I told him 'just follow me'."
"He said 'OK', and then he started to dance. Then I started following his lead because he is a very good dancer," Godoy told the La Nacion daily.
President Barack Obama has made headlines for unexpectedly crooning a song or two in public since coming to the White House. Now he can add dancing the tango to his list of hidden talents.