A Future Salero's Story...

As far as my Salsa story, it is thus far not an addiction. It has been but one week since I learned not to associate Salsa with a sauce! But I did spend three hours in front of a mirror last night practicing Cuban motion, listening to a Salsa CD I bought !
What got me interested in Salsa was a big mixture of things. I have always been a very timid dancer, very shy and self-conscious. I wanted to learn how to dance. But I never thought 'Latin' or 'Ballroom'. That stuff was just cheesy to me, I wanted to go to a club and dance with women !

Enter my girlfriend. An incredible dancer (professional - jazz, tap, ballet modern, etc...) I remember her always trying to get me to watch the movie salsa with her. I knew I wanted to learn how to really dance with her, but I was too intimidated by her ability and my lack thereof to do anything about it. She did not like the idea of my taking private lessons with some other woman, and I would not take group lessons with her.

Exit my girlfriend. I broke up with her. One of my biggest regrets is that I never really danced with her, what a wasted opportunity. So I pick up this magazine she brought home one day. It is the one and only GQ magazine I have ever read. (Never again).
It had this article on Salsa. I read it, and I was blown away by the passion that was contained in the words used to describe the dance. It got me psyched. Salsa was definitely NOT cheesy. I wanted to learn. To make sure, I went to a Latin dance club and watched. It looked like a lot of fun, certainly more fun than nightclubs where dancing with a girl rarely (if ever) involves acknowledgment of each others existence, let alone eye contact.

So I took my first lesson. It was fun. Not earth shattering, but fun. I practiced a little. I went to a group lesson. My first chance to dance with women other than the instructor. There was this one woman, at the lesson with her boyfriend. The instructor
asked us to switch partners. Dancing with her gave me the first hint of how sexy this dance could be. She was only a little better than me, but she knew how to make it sexy. So this Wednesday I am going with my friend (on your advice :) to the Tongue and Groove. The group lesson really did a lot for me, much more than I thought it would. I saw people of varying levels dancing with each other. I saw a man who could really get his Cuban motion going. But most importantly I learned the importance of eye contact. The eyes of a woman whom you are leading in a dance ...what can I say ? Wow ! I just wanted to keep her in my arms all night, dancing and leading.

Maybe I am just a little addicted ;)

Well, so far my experience is limited to one club. There is a small crowd, maybe 25 people at one time ? (Not all dancing). At least five of those people were instructors. It is a nice club, but I will wait until I am more "worldly" before I rate it.

My first time dancing at a club with a strange woman was something to learn from :)
She was at least as bad as me (I don't think she knew what steps to try) but I did my best and tried to lead her. I think she tried to lead me too :) I danced a few times, but I just really stink, so I sat down to watch the instructors go at it.

I saw two men and one woman that took my breath away. The first man made a beginner woman look like a pro. The second man was with the young woman and they both looked incredible.

I have set my goal.

I want to dance like the older Latin gentlemen. They are AWESOME. It'll probably take my whole life to get that good...