Rico's Story...

I know the feeling you had that first night of Salsa you described in your "story." There's just something about salsa that always gets me.

I grew up with all my "primos" who knew how to dance. I wasn't very good at first, but I learned...little by little. It wasn't until my first year at UCLA that I really go into it (sorta). I had a friend who was with the Salsa Club on campus. After dinner, when the sun was setting, her and I used to dance outside on this "platform" (atually, it was more like a sunning area over our washers & dryers) in our suites. We used to dance for hours.

Later on, another friend of mine, an Residential Assistant (RA) in the dorms, and I hooked up and we started teaching some of the basic moves to the students in her building. That was such the bomb ! One time, we taught a class (we called it Latin Rhythms) in front of about 40 couples (it was an RA convention) out on this huge balcony overlooking the UCLA campus.

(it's all flashback!)

Anyway, that was a long time ago. I've gotten a little rusty, and I notice that there is a lot more to Salsa than just those basic steps. For all intents and purposes, I consider myself as being a beginner all over again (I'm trying to keep that "fresh" perspective on learning *smile*). The moves are so...sensual and...flowing. There is nothing like seeing a couple "connect" on the dance floor (well, except maybe actually experiencing it first hand).

Rico can be reached at suavecito@hotmail.com