| In my youth (I'm 63 now) I learned Ballroom Dancing | | | | the steps and the moves. However, once you have |
| and got quite good at it through effort and | | | | got going you will find it the most expressive of |
| application (lots of late nights). For those of you who | | | | dance styles. In other words, it is a means of letting |
| don't know what ballroom dancing really is, what it | | | | yourself go and releasing your pent up feelings and |
| isn't is that flashy stuff you may have seen on TV | | | | frustrations and if you want to, to explore the |
| shows over the last few years. However, I digress. | | | | extrovert side of your personality. |
| When Discos were invented (yes, there was life | | | | And the best bit is you can do this in a setting where |
| pre-disco) Ballroom dancing virtually died overnight | | | | people just like you want to and are doing, just that. |
| and so did my involvement in it. Move on 30 years | | | | As I often say, going Salsa dancing, whether to a fun |
| and to my introduction to Salsa Dancing. Well it can't | | | | class or an actual dance evening (also fun!), it is the |
| be that difficult can it? After all it's all dancing and it's | | | | cheapest way to have fun without it being illegal! |
| just a question of reorienting the feet a bit. No. This | | | | I readily admit that I am addicted to Salsa dancing. |
| is my journey to the exciting world of Salsa. | | | | Not only is it enjoyable but it is a very healthy and |
| 'Just tell me where to put my feet' I would say. With | | | | informal way of keeping fit - it provides you with |
| hindsight of course I clearly was not getting the plot. | | | | that essential cardio-vascular exercise AND keeps |
| Ballroom dancing that I was taught in my youth was | | | | you supple. But more than that, it is good for your |
| (and still is I believe) very much about conforming to | | | | mental health and well being. So many times I have |
| a certain set of rules. It was very regimented and to | | | | gone Salsa dancing maybe not in the best frame of |
| succeed one had to comply with the 'regulations'. | | | | mind (due to the usual life problems, stresses, |
| After all, that was what one was being judged on. | | | | worries, etc.), but I find the session to be a |
| Yes, judged! There were exams of course and ones | | | | guaranteed mood lifter. The simple reason for this is |
| every micro-move was closely scrutinized against a | | | | the energizing effect of this delightful and invigorating |
| set of criteria. Regimentation was what it was all | | | | activity. |
| about - expression it definitely wasn't! | | | | One of the main reasons for this outcome is the |
| Move on 30 years or so - another time, another | | | | social aspect. Meeting up with like minded people who |
| place, another person! As I said, by way of | | | | want to indulge in this dynamic form of exercise is |
| contradiction, Salsa is not just dancing. Or it won't be, | | | | fantastic. Going to a dance hall where all of the |
| once you give it a try. Salsa dancing is a fusion of | | | | poeple there without exception, are there because |
| Latin styles, from Cuba to various South American | | | | they want to dance and are indeed happy to dance |
| countries and it embraces Latin music and culture. It | | | | with you. It's guaranteed!. |
| has its roots in the Latin American view of the world | | | | Why not give it a try? |
| and like formal ballroom dancing, you need to learn | | | | |