Salsa Virgin

This week I took the first steps in learning how to dance Salsa. Well several steps actually. I went to a club in Hull with a couple (Sally & Steve, self confessed Salsa-holics...I feel a limerick coming on!) who have been dancing regularly for about 3 years. I was assured that I didn’t need a partner as there would be plenty of available men just waiting to dance with the girls, especially the new ones (what more incentive did I need), but I still felt a little nervous with it being my ‘first time’. So, a few days beforehand Liddi agreed to go with me. I’m sure she was feeling sorry for me being miserable, but I thought I’d make the most of her generosity now as it may not last……! By the time Tuesday’s class came around, Liddi was surprisingly enthusiastic and had got her outfit planned, and had even bought new shoes*. Shoes need to be slippy enough for dancing, and not too grippy (easier said than done!).

We got to the class at 8.30pm and the first hour and a quarter was a dance class, divided into 3 sections. Beginners, improvers and intermediates. In the beginners class there was a surplus of women to men (no surprise there), but still enough men for us all to try some partner dancing. It did feel a little weird holding hands with a complete stranger, trying to move in time to each other (not always successfully) and then moving on to another one a couple of minutes later! During our class we learnt to mambo, side step, cucaracha and back step. We also tried a cross body something or other!! For a first timer it all took lots of concentrating and looking at feet.

After the class, the lights went down, the music went up, and it was social dancing time where all abilities mixed and had a go. It was really impressive watching some of the experienced dancers. Liddi and I had several dances with strangers, and managed ok. It’s a bit frustrating watching all the twirling and rhythmic swaying, and then only being able to step backwards, forwards and sidewards!

The only way to get good at anything is to practice, so we already plan to be back again next week. (one…two…three……….five…six…seven….)

I took a photo on my new phone, but haven’t quite mastered it’s full capabilities….and it was dark… so if you look carefully to the right of the grainey picture, you can see Liddi concentrating hard on her mambo steps!

*vintage shoes (we like to do our bit for charity!).