Let the Salsa Lessons Begin

My original plan to become a superstar salsa dancer by not spending any money and simply hanging out at the clubs on the weekend was failing miserably.

I decided to take my desire to learn the dance more seriously, and found the dance studio near The Black Sheep hostel I had heard about from an Australian guy a few weeks ago.

I inquired about prices, and while the private lessons were just a tad more expensive than group lessons, I thought it would be more fun to meet some new people and go with the group lessons.

I had previously taken about 10 hours worth of salsa lessons at a studio in Washington, DC back in 2006, however I never went out to the Latin clubs to practice.  As a result, I forgot the moves I had learned, though I still remembered the basic steps and movements.

The first class was a lot of fun, though it was incredibly hot inside the studio, which is really the converted interior of a house.

There were two older Colombian women, and a young European girl studying abroad, plus three young Colombian guys.

The ratio was a person off, so after some basic steps on our own, I partnered with the teacher for a dance or two, before we began a rotation.

It is always interesting to see how women dance differently.  Some like to lead more than others, and of course until I become a stronger leader myself, I prefer the ones who are not so aggressive!

I decided to sign up for 2 hours a week, for a month, and see where that takes me, but that’s not all.  Lessons without practice outside the studio, won’t get me far.

So I am dropping my timidity, and looking for any willing Colombian partner to join me on the dance floor.

Plus, the Dinamo gym recently began offering a Rumba (aerobics) class which basically a dance class set to a variety of common tropical music here, such as salsa and meringue.

Since I am already paying for a membership, I can take advantage of those classes at no extra cost, and really accelerate my learning!

Unlike in the USA, the majority of women here in Colombia grow up dancing salsa, at least as far as I have found.

As a result, they not only love to go out dancing on the weekends, they’re damn good at it too, and often willing to take a gringo for a spin or two if he invites her (though odds may be lower if you don’t realize she is with her boyfriend or husband!).