Salsa - a dynamic mixture...

...of heaven and hell.

I went with the salsa society to Club Colosseum in London last night. Pretty much still being a salsa virgin it was my first time seeing people seriously getting their groove on with each other so energetically. At first it was difficult plucking up the courage to ask random women to dance, but I eventually did and possibly at the worst possible time. I asked her if she wanted to dance and she walked out in to the dance floor with me saying: "I'm not very good at Bachatta." Uh-oh I thought, I had to ask someone to do a dance I've never heard of. So I saw it as an opportunity to learn something new. I got her to teach me the Bachatta basics instead.

Spurred with confidence after that, I decided to ask another for a dance. I dragged her as far into the floor as possible so my atrocious dancing wouldn't get spotted by any women waiting for partners around the edges. And I managed to fit in basic steps and the same 3 moves OVER and OVER again. And her smile wasn't just a polite grimace, but toned down laughter at my festive incompetence. I kicked and stamped on those unlucky enough to be in my vicinity and cannoned my partner into another couple, aiming to execute one of my favourite moves where we both let go and spin. She got flicked sideways into someone else and i stepped on someone's foot (I don't think my feet ever touched the floor in there, I was just walking on everyone else's shoes). Her face was a mixture of surprise at suddenly being let go, and then an intrigued and sympathetic giggle that wondered why I thought I was good enough to execute such a move. So I laughed, ignored it and dragged her into the same move for the fourth time.

Thankfully women in salsa have to follow their partner, for better or worse.