My first time........

[salsachinita]

We all know that first step into a salsa club as a newbie can be an intimidating experience.

Anyone feels like sharing theirs.....?

[youngsta]

Sure. It was almost two months after I started taking classes. On Thursdays after class the instructor would meet students over at this little Peruvian restaurant called Irene's. I had a little confidence since I was always getting compliments in class. So we get there and I ask one of the women in my class to dance. We get out there and my mind goes completely blank...nothing! So I "lead" her through basics and a right turn for 4 1/2 minutes. After that my confidence was gone. And when I saw the instructors get out there with partners I about died! :lol:

[salsachinita]

Here's mine: strictly speaking, I've been to Latino community functions where people dance (mostly cumbia), but the first time I've stepped into an actual club, I was just chillin' with the people from my class (I was the baby then, so people took good care of me :oops: ) & hangin' with the musicians.....until this well-known local salsero swooped me into a beautiful salsa romantica (it was the 80s :roll: ) & brought me into a different world.

He turned out to be my salsa mentor 8) . This was how the story began....

[Lockstep]

had a wonderful 'first time'. met a really nice spanish girl at my dance class, who basically knows how to dance salsa but is in the class to focus on her technique, and cuz i was about the only one to be able to communicate with her (her english not that good, but i speak spanish), we hung out and she's since become my semi-regular dance partner in that class

anyway, she dragged me to the club, and very patiently made me do the very very very basic moves we just did in class, always smiling and being happy, so that went a long way to getting me some confidence, especially cuz she kept coming back in between her dancing with the 'pros'

guess there really are some sweet girls out there! or maybe its the latin warm hearted spirit. anyway, great first time for me, and it got me totally hooked up with salsa, so that i can now actually dance with this girl at a decent level :)

[peachexploration]

I must say that the first time I step into a Salsa Club, it was just like being at home. The love, the energy and all I could do at that time was a basic step and a few turns. People were warm and friendly. Everyone had a wondeful time. :D

Lockstep, are you still around. How is going?

[la celia]

How embarrassing! :oops: :oops: :oops: I was looking around me all the time,I felt an alien!Horrible!!!I didn't dance salsa...only merengue!
I started to dance salsa,after a lot of lessons!!!I was a sort of uman trunk! :lol: I was really nervous!Especially when I had to dance with my teacher... :roll: :? :evil:

[salsadame]

for me.. tat was last december! was dragged down to the club after my first lesson! in which i only knew the basic steps and the right turn. :oops:

was freakin out when my beginner classmate asked if we should try. later in the night.. two intermediate guys asked me for a dance and i had to regretfully turn them down. oh i so badly wanted to dance like the seasoned dancers then sigh. my first time.. :roll:

[El guru]

I cannot forget that day...

as some of you could have understood... I can't be included in the "shy people world" :o

As I like to dance al lot... as I went my first time in a salsodrome, I immediately begun to invite girls...
One of them after 20 sec... stopped me "sorry, I'm tired.. better another time..."
while we were going out from the dancefloor she saw a friend and told him..."pleease... dance with me.. I'm boring..." :? :?

I was really upset.. and sad...
it was form me a strong impulse to continue end learn fastly...

3 years later.. I invited her again... (she was absent form the dancefloors for 2 years at least...) ... after 30 seconds.. she told..."wow.. you dane very well now..."
in my mind pased my first time with her... I answered...
"not thanks to your help... but thanks to her... and her... (pointing some girls...)"...
I left her in the middle of the dancefloor and I invited one of the other 2 girls... ;) :lol: :D

[peachexploration]

El Guru, I think it's just sad how people make it hard for beginning Salser@s. It's almost like people forget that they were once beginners. Anyways, I bet she dreams about dancing with you now. That's her loss. Maybe she will treat others differently in the future. :D Anyone else remember their first and would like to share? :)

[la celia]

3 years later.. I invited her again... (she was absent form the dancefloors for 2 years at least...) ... after 30 seconds.. she told..."wow.. you dane very well now..."
in my mind pased my first time with her... I answered...
"not thanks to your help... but thanks to her... and her... (pointing some girls...)"...
I left her in the middle of the dancefloor and I invited one of the other 2 girls... ;) :lol: :D

Oh my God! I can't believe it! :shock: :shock: You are impossible my dear! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

:*

[peachexploration]

Anyone else? :)

[Ms_Sunlight]

Okay, I'll bite. It was very recent though, only about 6 weeks ago. I've only been learning salsa about 2 months!

There's a class on a monday night followed by a club night. A lot of people come later on for the club only. Anyway, myself and my darling stayed behind and we were on the side of the dancefloor, watching and dancing with each other -- just the basics we knew, mambo steps and the odd cross body lead -- and enjoying the mood.

This guy comes up when we're resting and asks me to dance. I say yes, but warn him I'm an "abject beginner" so up we get on the floor.

He's rude to me. Very rude and patronising. He tells me off when I can't follow his lead and teaches me this little turn combo he wants me to do.

I'm intimidated. I smile like a cretin and do what he tells me even though I don't like his attitude. I don't like the things he's saying to me.

I feel bad afterwards and we leave soon after, only staying to finish our drinks. I am upset. I wonder if he only asked me to take the mickey because of the way I look -- I'm a little fat and I don't look like a salsera.

Looking back his lead was poor and certainly not adapted to a beginner lady. Very "noisy" because he was bopping about so much that I couldn't pick out his cues to move.

I got one thing out of it though -- a determination to be the very very best dancer I can possibly be so that some day I will dance him and everyone like him right off the floor and blow their minds!

Oh, and I also get to live the rest of my life knowing that I'm a better person that would never treat anyone like that.

:D :D :D

A week or two ago I was in an "improvers" class, one step up from beginners, and he's there. I've done the moves faultlessly with a couple of other leads and we change partners and I end up with him. I can't follow him at all. I'm trying to concentrate on following rather than just stepping through the pattern being taught and he's not giving me any of the clear cues the other guys were so I'm just not following. I apologise and say "sorry, I'm losing the plot here a bit" and he cruelly says "yes, you are" and then the class finishes and the instructor says, "time for beginners to leave the floor." I say it's time for me to go and he says in a nasty voice, "yes it is." What a prat!

Anyway, now I know he's not that good and that I have the potential to be so much better, probably because of my attitude rather than any talent. He can't lead even when I know 100% he's trying to do moves I know how to follow! It feels sweet!

[peachexploration]

Wow, MS_Sunlight. That guy obviously has issues big time. :evil: I'm glad your love for Salsa is still there. :D

[salsachinita]

You've got a long & happy dancing life ahead, Ms_Sunlight..... keep up the attitude :D ! So many others would have either quit, or become bitter (we need neither in the scene!)......

Sadly I've experienced it too (mainly in the early days, or out of my home town where I'm unknown)......and all too often it's due to their own egos & insecurities, brought upon by my unfamiliarity to their style/timing/bad leads.

[MacMoto]

You are absolutely right, Ms_Sunlight!

This guy comes up when we're resting and asks me to dance. I say yes, but warn him I'm an "abject beginner" so up we get on the floor.

He's rude to me. Very rude and patronising. He tells me off when I can't follow his lead and teaches me this little turn combo he wants me to do.


One thing I've noticed is that, leaders who tell the partner off and try to teach moves are not very good dancers. Good dancers can adjust their leads, either making them more clear or do simpler moves so that the follower can have a good, enjoyable dance. That's how they get good.

[Ms_Sunlight]

A bad workman blames his tools ;) ;) ;)

What can I say? I'm trying very hard not to take offense at anyone, nor offend anyone. It's not worth it. Life is too short, and the salsa scene is too small. I love dancing and I love the music and I'm not going to let a bad attitude -- mine or anyone else's -- interfere with that!

[hopelessly_addicted]

My first time was at a small salsa bar (gardenias) last October. I had been taking a very informal "street latin" classes ($5 per class!) for the past 2 months and was invited to this other instructor's class social at this bar. So, I went. It was a thursday night, and so not so many social dancers at all. There were only 2 social dancers there.

This guy (Flintstone) first asked me to dance and danced with me for at least 30 minutes straight. That was the first time that I was led into moves that I've never learnt and just danced without consciously thinking what I was doing - it was so liberating! And then.... El Pirate asked me to dance... now, he didn't twirl me around and went through endless pretzels like Flintstone, but he did a very close embrace side-to-side (almost like a blues, not even salsa!) with me. Man.. really feeling the music like that, i was really hooked!

So that's how it all began. I guess I've been really lucky to have all these experienced leads to patiently guide me through. Plus, I wasn't faced with much snobbery, gossips, politics, etc of the scene when I first started so I feel I was really blessed :D

Thanks Salsachinita for the creative nicknames btw! :)

[Rosa]

I wonder if he only asked me to take the mickey because of the way I look -- I'm a little fat and I don't look like a salsera.

Sorry to digress - and I will post my first experience of salsa clubs here soon - but my first impression on reading your post, Ms Sunlight, was to think, "What does a salsera look like?"

I have a friend who travels regularly to Cuba (she has a Cuban bf) and she says that it's a common sight there to see 'big' women getting up and dancing Salsa. And some of them aren't just slightly plump but enormous. But they love the music, the rhythm, they just give themselves up to it... and they're in hot demand as partners!

I also have a Colombian friend, from Bogotá, and she says exactly the same thing.

So if it's good enough for salseros in the cradle of Salsa, it should certainly be good enough for salseros elsewhere!

His loss, not yours.

Rosa :)

[peachexploration]

Funny that you bring that back up, Rosa. You will find that there are quite of few people who are into Salsa for the "look" of the person rather than dancing itself. It's sad but true. I wouldn't call those people "dancers" at all. Some of the best Salseros I've danced with are big guys. Some of the supposedly hottest "so called" salseros can't dance at all. Can't even spell rhythm. Even if they are the most beautiful people on earth and can dance their socks off, it doesn't justify that kind of behavior by any means. Love your curves muchacha and keep on going. As you already know, they'll love your curves too, once they see you "dance" and quite a few will before then. ;) :banana:

[salsachinita]

Some of the best Salseros I've danced with are big guys. :banana:

I can certainly testify to that 8) , PeachE.

My salsa mentor/ex was one of the most sought-after salseros (and there were less than a dozen in his league) for many years, until he left the scene. Another story (not directly related to dancing).

He bears resemblance to Tito Nieves, but can seduce any woman during a salsa.........there were such a long line to dance with him, I practically had to take a ticket :roll: .......

:oops: ok, back to the topic :oops: ...........

[Ms_Sunlight]

Sorry to digress - and I will post my first experience of salsa clubs here soon - but my first impression on reading your post, Ms Sunlight, was to think, "What does a salsera look like?"


You know Rosa, you're quite right. It was a bit of a silly thing to say. What I meant, I suppose, is that my appearance is a bit different to most if not all the women I see out at Salsa nights here in Cardiff. I look like a big redheaded punk.

What does a salsera look like? Whatever she bloody well pleases I suppose!

[lotitok]

hiiiiiii ppl!!!!! :D i m new in this forum, as well as in salsa!! i have just started my salsa beginner's class two weeks ago! today , is my third lesson :)
salsa is soooo addictive n i m really loving it! :)
anyway i m from spore!! greets to all here!!! :D

[jimedoc]

Hi lotitok!! Welcome to the SalsaForum comunity!! ;)

[peachexploration]

Woo Hoo! A new member to the Salsa community! :banana: Welcome, Lotitok. Happy to have you here! :D

[Wicked Salsero]

i dont remember mine...and can only be two explenations for that:

1. It was so bad experience that i blocked it out
2. It was a normal night out so i didnt pay so much attention :)

Ill take the 2nd !

[Rosa]

Sorry to digress - and I will post my first experience of salsa clubs here soon - but my first impression on reading your post, Ms Sunlight, was to think, "What does a salsera look like?"


You know Rosa, you're quite right. It was a bit of a silly thing to say. What I meant, I suppose, is that my appearance is a bit different to most if not all the women I see out at Salsa nights here in Cardiff. I look like a big redheaded punk.

What does a salsera look like? Whatever she bloody well pleases I suppose!

What you said wasn't silly at all, Ms Sunlight.

And my question was rhetorical. ;) :lol:

Rosa :)

[Tancha]

coming back to the therad subj. I'd like to share my first salsa night out here as well.

Before I went out I'd attended a couple of salsa classes and all I knew was the basic, right and left turn and CBL(I practiced it a bit but a week of practice was almost nothing). But the first night out I spent sitting at the table and sipping my juice, chatting with new friends from the salsa
community. I wanted to try to dance but nobody invited me and I was too shy to ask anybody to dance with me(our partners form the beginners class didn't go out that night). But generally I enjoyed the atmosphere of the place and watching other salseros dancing. That night we had a special guest from Krakow (Poland) and it was a dazzling performance made by our salsa instructor and him. Nevertheless I was slightly upset because I wanted practice and after reading a couple of articles over the internet(God Bless Eddie the Salsa Freak!) urging never be afraid of inviting advanced and intermediate salseros I told myself: Tanya, you should go out and invite. And it happened! Yes I did it- the very next time I just went out and asked the salseros from the advanced class and wasn't turned down. I was really encouraged that night... the lead was clear and soft (they happened to be really patient to me). It was beautiful ;-)... and I consider it actually to be my first salsa night
out...the first time when I felt like being a beginner salsera.
We're really lucky that ppl here are enormously friendly and sociable and those who actually take salsa lessons(it's the majority of local salseros) would never do anything impolite or offending even for beginners. Now, when I feel more confident on the dancefloor I never turn anybody down, even if I know that the guy can perform only the basic. All of us have started somewhere =)

[TemptressToo]

First time in a real club???

A friend of mine is this skinny Navy guy that LOVES all things Latin. He's actually told me I'd be cute "if" I was Latin. Anyway, he started telling me about the salsa club in Fort Walton Beach that he'd been going to and how I should try it. At first I was hesitent because Latin is not my strong suit (smooth is)...but after spending some time away at another studio and developing my dancing...a practice with my Latin-loving friend surprised us both at how clean I had become in following and spings/turns.

So, I decided to try salsa. After a phone call, I decided to attend the lesson. Arriving, I discovered a very empty club with a handful of couples on the floor. Submitting myself to criticism, I began to dance and in the process befriended those in attendance. It turned out to be a very wise decision on my part as they were actually the hard-core salsa addicts that I would most want to associate myself with. I essentially became their token white girl. ;)

From there, my friendships, skills and abilities grew in leaps and bounds...I really enjoy it a lot but consider myself lucky for my friends. I did not have to endure the stand-offish..."does she or doesn't she" analysis nor did I get stuck dancing with drunks who spend their time staring at my chest.

[Miami Rueda dancer]

Welcome to the SF family TempressToo! Glad to have you here! We all understand how you feel! :D We love salsa to death too! :lol:

[ksm4791]

I dont go to clubs, but the 1st Social I attended I was very nervous, I was just hoping to come in for alittle while and basically just watch, learn, try to pick up something new. Well as soon as i walk in my instructor pairs me up with a advanced female dancer, man I was horrible, I was off timing (I only knew cus she let me know of it) and at the time all i knew was just basic, cbl, she turns, he turns (i could barely get them right), I could see in her face she couldnt wait for the song to end, when the song ended she jetted the opposite way and all i could think of to say was "sorry" lol, i probably shouldve just said "thank you". The rest of evening went better as I found some of my classmates to dance with and I also got to dance w/a female instructor who can make a dried out cactus look like a salsero.

[hopelessly_addicted]

Welcome ksm4791! :D

Is there any reason why you don't dance at clubs ksm4791? Man.. I'd love to live in NYC for the salsa clubs! ;)

[ksm4791]

hopelessly_addicted, Wife doesnt mind if I hit the social which happens to be a in our neighborhood were we take lessons. She unfortunetly is not addicted and doesn't have much motivation to even go occasionaly, but has hinted at going to a club once where "good" for special occasions. In the mean time ill just go to the socials on my own :D and have a great time.

[peachexploration]

Hi Ksm4791! Happy to have you here! :D

[JazzHands]

Hi everyone!

I just came across these forums the other day and have been reading the threads with great interest. Some very amusing, interesting, sad, and useful stories \ advice here.
I'd like to share with you my own first time at a salsa class.

I was on a first date with someone and after a few drinks in a bar, we headed to another bar for a change of scenery.

As fate would have it, we ended up sitting in a little raised area of the bar (no-one sitting there at the time) and within about 5 minutes people started arriving and this guy came over and asked us if we were taking part in his salsa class.

Turns out the girl I was with LOVED to dance, and she immediately insisted that we joined in.

Wasn't too horrendous an experience, although (a) having had a few drinks beforehand, (b) never having had any dance experience before in my life, and (c) being nervous because I was so keen to impress the lady in question - I did struggle. Spent basically the entire evening just trying to get the basic drummed into my head (and failing).

Anyway, following that I joined a salsa class closer to where I live a couple of weeks later, and went along with a couple of guy friends (who unfortunately subsequently gave up after a couple of weeks).

I was hooked though, and in the year and a half since then I've attended various classes with many different instructors. Have now found a class \ club very close to where I live which I absolutely love.

Whenever I am having a bit of a mare of a time though - unable to get some new sequence or shine or whatever - I think back to that first time of stumbling around over the basic, and I realise just how far I have come.

Do other people have a particular thing that they think about when they have one of "those evenings" when their salsa mojo is just not working?

[Miami Rueda dancer]

hehehe, JazzHands that was a great story! :) Me and a bunch of friends joined salsa because when w had to chance to dance with the girl we were with/ attracted to we didn't know what we were doing. :lol:

[JazzHands]

Brothers across the ocean Miami Rueda dancer, Brothers across the ocean!

[Miami Rueda dancer]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I knew I had SOME European bloodline somewhere in my family! :D

[salseralon]

I hadn't noticed this thread before, so i thought id add my first club experience.

I had been dancing for about a month, then i got persuaded to go to the club by my now boyfriend, who back then wasnt but we were flirting, but because he taught sometimes and i was a complete newbie i thought he was just being polite ( :roll: ) untill everyone persuaded me that we liked each other, so i went to the club and disaster struck cos 2 other girls were all over him and i felt too shy and lack of dancing experince to try and "fight" back so my confidence was knocked.
Then it was all good cos he apologised and felt guilty and now we are together happily ever after lol plus my dancing is like 100000x better

[latindia]

I guess I'm gonna share my beginner experience too.

Background: I grew up in India, where the concept of ballroom/partner dancing does not exist except in very elite circles. I moved to Houston, TX 5 years ago.

Two years ago, my best friend (a Japanese-American) started dating this Latino girl and decided to learn salsa. He dragged me along. That was my first intro to the whole social dancing culture. I did not enjoy it. I had no dancing experience whatsoever. I had no cultural concept of partner dancing or dating or such things. I did enjoy the music, though.

About a month after starting the class, we went to a club. After hours of hesitation, I managed to ask a girl to dance. We went out to the floor, and I...froze. Blanked out. completely. Did not even remember the basic. The girl was nice, and helped me out a bit, but I felt like sinking through the floor. That shocked me so bad I gave it up altogether.

Over the last six months, I visited mexico on 2 different backpacking trips. In May, I was in Oaxaca. On a tour, we (a bunch of international tourists) were waiting for our bus, when this tour bus full of teenagers from Veracruz drove in. Noticing a ready audience, they put on loud music and started a salsa party in the parking lot. This was mid-afternoon 90+ temperature!!! The girls dragged the tourists in and taught them the basics. It started coming back to me. At the end of the trip, I was motivated to get back into salsa after seeing people in different parts of Mexico just enjoying the dance so much!

It's going great now!!! I've been going out last coupla months. I just try to feel the music and think less about what move I'm gonna do next. I've a couple of latina friends who are my regular partners. We get compliments from random people in latin bars etc about how good we dance as a couple. :banana: I'm staying on for sure!!!

Sorry for the long post. I just had to share :)

[Nickie p]

debating on going to my first club tonight actually (the other half has gone away for the night to play golf with an early t-off time in the morning) so I can party for the night.

Just not sure where to go - ive only been dancing 3 months or so now and not been to a club before!

Nic

[DeeplyDippy]

Good luck, have fun :D

[FreeStylerBG]

My first time was when I was invited by one girl (amazing dancer) to dance with her in a Salsa club, and even though I didn't even know the basics, I enjoyed it a lot since I felt no pressure. I was moving my feet as I was pleased .. just dancing to the music ... even though it must have been pretty bad from today's point of view.

However, once the lessons started, so did my struggles, as I started seeing strictly the technical side of the dance, and only now, 7 months later I am more relaxed and try to imrovise a bit ... back to the first experience I guess :))

[salseralon]

Did you end up going to the club Nicky? Let us know your 1st experienc if you did :D

[Nickie p]

Hi salseralon

Oh Salsa forums I have sinned!

I wussed out and didn't go. One of my usual salsa dancing friends didn't go and I was to much of a scaredy cat to go alone!

maybe will be able to add to this thread at some point in the future but after last nights salsa - I think i've got a huge way to go before I should even darken the door of any salsa club!

[DeeplyDippy]

Even if they were playing "Playa no more" :D

[salseralon]

Hi Nickie (sorry spelt it with a 'y' b4)

I was really scared to go too, im sure u read my 1st time on here, esp trying to impress someone aswell (not a good idea when a beginner lol) but im sure you'd be fine, its not as bad once your inside the door.


Looking 4ward to reading your 1st experience
x

[peachexploration]

Hi salseralon

Oh Salsa forums I have sinned!

I wussed out and didn't go. One of my usual salsa dancing friends didn't go and I was to much of a scaredy cat to go alone!

maybe will be able to add to this thread at some point in the future but after last nights salsa - I think i've got a huge way to go before I should even darken the door of any salsa club!

NickieP, are you going to attend this? :arrow: Forums Meet and Greet – Sept 16th–18th - London, UK (http://www.salsaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=533&start=0)


Maybe if you attend with fellow SFers along with your other friends it might be a little easier to take that first step? :) ;)

[aligater]

i only had 2 moves for my first time - so i wimped out when i saw nearly everyone else had about 3000 & 2 - except another couple obviously also newbies - but they had 1 more move than me - but they had the guts to get up & try those 3 moves (for the rest of the night - next time - so did i (ps am now upto about 6& a half moves - motorin' or what)

[SDsalsaguy]

Hiya aligater! Are there places to go salsa dancing in Blackpool?

[Capibaribe]

Aaight, I'll share my rather sad first time too. My first post to this excellent forum!

For years I had heard of this "salsa-thingy". For some reason I thought it was geeky and no MAN could surely be doing that stuff. (I'm in sweden, please have patience with me :) ) Needless to say, I did never actually see any salsa dancing.

In the fall of 2004 me and two friends decided to go on vacation to brasil and I though - hmm, I might be nice to know some latino moves! At that time I did not know much about dancing and never gave samba much thought...

Soo, I managed to get my two travel buddies out of their comfy computer chairs and to the best renowned dance school in town. We would have time to finnish one full beginner course (7*1h) before the flight took of. Anyway, after three weeks we decided that, "hey we know some moves now, lets go out practice!".

Three happy and excited computer geeks went to the local salsa club which always start their night with a free beginner course. Noo problems, good confidence boost! Anyways...after the class we went to the bar to chill with a beer. In the mean while more and more people filed into the club and started dancing like there was no tomorrow.

We never left the bar that night. I never knew how much we sucked until then. Luckily I took this as a challenge and after returning from the holliday I started taking double/tripple and quadrupple classes each week. The number of friends and known faces expanded quickly and now after 1.5 years I can dance fluently with almost anyone and it is such a WONDERFUL feeling! I am currently at the On2 crossroad, struggling like a beginner :D

What about the vacation in brasil you might wonder? Well, it turned out that the salsa scene in brasil (at least in Recife where we went) is considerable smaller than here in sweden. We found a salsa club and ofcourse we sucked there too, but 95% of the locals at the club didn't know what salsa was (!) so that was ok. After a few caipirinhas and a lambada with gorgeous latina I was a very happy man :)

Sorry for not keeping to the subject, I just felt like writing :)

[DeeplyDippy]

Sorry for not keeping to the subject, I just felt like writing :)
No problem - it's good reading :D

Welcome to SalsaForums !

[pr]

My first post to this excellent forum!
Welcome buddy!!! :D :D

[Terremoto]

My first post to this excellent forum!
Welcome buddy!!! :D :D

Ditto!

[Capibaribe]

Bumping this thread since we have a few new members that we would like to know a bit more about :)

[sweavo]

I can't remember my first time in a salsa club but I do remember early on getting invited to a club in Leeds that had salsa on the bottom floor, RnB on the middle floor, and Indie (!) on the top floor... the place had everything from sweaty black guys in vests to pasty-faced retro-mods ... the salsa room was small, the music was terrible by my current taste, but fine for me then, and the room had about 1/3 competent dancers, 1/3 bad salsa dancers, and 1/3 drunkards. And most importantly, it was DARK. So I watched the bar for semi-drunk females who looked like they were interested in dancing but who had no clue... and I would offer to show them the basics...

So I was "teaching" when I only knew single right turn, cuban walkthrough and crossbody :-) ... but I learned a lot about leading on a practical level, how to make the lead nice and clear... also how to interpret other sorts of music with salsa-like steps :-)

The darkness and the clueless followers really were a lucky strike for me, because I could work through the clueless-leader stuff away from the gaze of great dancers!

[Swannie]

I'm sure I've already laid out my story peicemeal in my many posts of waffle, but I'll do it again here to add to the collection ;)

Back in January last year I put together a list of New Years Resolutions. Now I see my resolutions as things to resolve to do, by the end of the year. Trying to keep them straight away is, in my opinion, quite silly.

Anyways, so learning to dance was on the list. I'd always enjoyed dancing, my first experiences really being at the age of 16, going to an under 18 club night. They would put on "Happy Hardcore" music, and that would just take me to another place. I didn't care how I looked, the music just drove my body. Apparently I looked like I was on speed or something ;) Anyways, forward a couple of years and age 18, when I could go to clubs. Suddenly I was massively self concious of dancing, and did as little as possible. Well last year I decided I'd had enough. I'd been doing Tai Chi a while, and was getting pretty good at that, so I thought I'd give dancing a go, how hard could it be?!

Well, I made it to my first salsa class at the end of July 2006. It was a hot summer evening, and I wandered off on my own. I was a little embaressed to tell my friends, let along ask any of them to come along. I ended up getting there a little late, and joining in the improvers upwards warm up by mistake. I was thinking, "whoa, crap, this is too fast... but hang on, all of these other people pretty much have it, give me a couple of weeks and I'll be able to do most of this...". I was relieved to find that the beginners warm up was only in to "open outs" when I got there.

I soaked up the timing pretty quickly, and had a good class. The improvers class afterwards was quite fast, I don't remember what it was, but it was beyond my level! So I wandered down after the classes and watched people dance. A while later the main instructor can and introduced himself, and persueded me to dance with one of the other beginners. He just did basics in close hold and I copied him.

7 months later I'm very very very glad I went along. Now I still go to the club/classes on my own, but when I am there I know the faces of at least 3/4 of the regulars, and I've got some really great friends that are there every week.

It's really rewarding dancing with people who I was doing the improvers class with, but at intermediate sort of level - that shared journey and learning experience is probably my favourite thing about going dancing (it's why I still do Tai Chi, why I did a college course last year - I miss Uni!).

Essay over (I do like writting, maybe I should take some classes...).

[AndrewD]

My first steps in salsa were at an all day intensive workshop – I’m so glad I did it before I started classes proper.
Even so, between the workshop and my next lesson I convinced myself that you danced salsa at half the speed. I was practicing the steps at home and my girlfriend said ‘that looks a bit slow’, I smiled sagely and ignorantly pronounced something like ‘are you joking, it would be impossible to do the steps at twice this pace!’.

My first ever social dance was with Prae (about three weeks after the workshop) – she must have taken pity on the lanky, depressed looking guy, sitting in the corner watching all the experienced dancers cut loose on the dance floor. The only move I could lead (badly) was a clockwise turn…
That dance was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life – I’m sort of shy and not a touchy/feely person especially and just holding hands with a stranger was intimidating – so after what I perceived to be four minutes of ritual humiliation, I quickly got my coat and left.

About 2 weeks later I danced with Prae again, but hit her in the face with my elbow during a turn (eek). I didn't ask anyone to dance again for another two months.

I guess at that stage I could have said salsa’s not for me, but the mental (and physical) pain was motivating, it made me want to improve – all this happened around 12 months ago.

[praecantricis]

Andrew I'd forgotten that I popped your salsa cherry!

I also started salsa at a one day intensive workshop. I don't think i'd have stuck at it week on week just waiting for it to click - I hate being really bad at something. The workshop meant that by the time I went to my first weekly class (3 days later) I was already able to hold a basic step in time to the music and do CBLs and single spins (not brilliantly obviously). That gave me some confidence. I had my first social dance the week after. A guy that I met in the beginners class (he did improver classes too) called Rob dragged me onto the floor. I also danced with some other people that night - but I can't remember who they were.

I remember being totally high after that night and just rambling on and on about it to my other half. The high must have lasted 2 days. I was hooked and kind of still am.