Dance Night!













I was conversing with my friend Bear who was telling me that it is now possible to go to dance salsa during every night of the week. While I am not entertaining the thought of doing this, it is quite fascinating that this is now possible. Probably I will note down his list the next time I see him. I got introduced to this latin dance almost ten years ago. However the class that I attended was more like a smorgasbord of latin dances because we did merengue one day then cha cha cha, salsa as well as cumbia. The sad part was that while we touched on the basics, we never got beyond that. Then there were the latin dance classes in California Fitness where again we never got past the basics and turns. But then not much progress there either. Last year, I met a friend who happens to be taking classes at Salsa Hacha near Silom and I got interested so I dropped by one time. While it was a basic class, I felt that they were doing very complicated steps that I better start the basic class from the very beginning. So over a period of a year, I learned the basics of salsa then went on to doing the more complicated steps and patterns. At first my lead was so rough. But I have since found a way of toning it down. But I manage to learn more and more throughout the year.

At first it was quite intimidating to go out dancing in the salsa clubs because most of the people dancing out there are very good. Now I am better but I still think I have a long way to go. In going to the clubs, I found out that there are many different styles of salsa. What I am learning is LA Salsa which is also called On 1 because guys take their first step with their left foot going forward on the count of 1. There is New York style which is also called On 2 because the guy sorts of steps in place on 1 with his left foot and then steps back on 2 with his right foot. At least that was how it was explained to me and someone I know who is trying to learn On 2 gave up trying after a while because it is as if you are trying to learn the dance all over again. Then there is Cuban style where you step on all 8 counts and dancers travel in a circular direction. One of the better dancers I know seem to be able to combine the something from each of these styles.

So on the night that I took the pictures above, students at another dance studio was presenting their show and they were doing it in the New York Style. For me I am content in learning more and more the LA style because there still are steps and patterns that befuddle me. Otherwise, learning this dance is something that I use to relax and to disconnect from everything else in this world. Because when I am able to ride with the music with a great partner, I am very happy!!!