“You have to speak Spanish in order to dance salsa?"

                Does knowing Spanish really help anyone dance Salsa? When I first signed up for salsa lessons, I thought I was at an advantage because I speak Spanish.  It was like the next step for me; first speak it, then dance it.  However, after the first class I realized there was flaw in my thinking.  In fact, what was I thinking?  I realized that salsa was its own language with its own base set of rules.        

Guys, What Not to Do on the Dance Floor

   Standing along the edge of the dance floor, you see him approaching out of the corner of your eye.  Your heartbeat quickens.  Your palms begin to sweat.  Should you make eye contact? He moves nearer. What will you say?  Just as he summons up the courage to ask you to dance, you make a mad dash for the exit.   

Ouch! Okay, maybe this scenario is a bit exaggerated.  Typically, when I don’t want to dance with a guy, I opt for the “No thanks” method.  Whatever your chosen escape strategy may be, it is most likely the effect of one or more of the following reasons.  So gentlemen, if you’ve ever suspected we may be giving you a “line” to avoid dancing with you, read on. You may be committing these perilous pitfalls.

Beginners Luck  

  "Salsa through the eyes of a beginner with no formal dance lessons"

Salsa starts out with the "basic".  Starting on 1 you here the instructor announcing 1.. 2.. 3...., 5.. 6.. 7..  This may be a clue to those who have had other formal dance lessons but means nothing to an individual who comes in with no experience. The instructors are patient and continue the count and showing the steps for the basic. These 6 easy steps that are quickly picked up by the class.  Everything seams fine until the instructor moves on into couples portion of the lesson and instructs everyone to partner up. This is where the fun begins.