Salsa Lessons

I’m officially taking private salsa dancing lessons. When I’m dancing I don’t have to think about English or Spanish or translating anything. I just feel rhythm, watch body language and listen to music. For me, it’s like a rejuvenating escape. Some people go to the beach. I dance.

My instructor has been teaching salsa for 20 years. He knows what’s up. Most people who see me dance say that I move my hips well, but Julio knows better. He doesn’t settle for a little flashy move that pleases the crowd. He makes me do it right so my partner and I can be successful. I have apparently picked up some really bad habits from swing dancing, like leaning over. He also says I look down too much. I do not! I swear I am spotting and looking at his face, but he says I’m looking down. It’s not my fault he’s a bit shorter than me and looking at his face is looking down! He told me that if I look at his shoes, I buy him coffee.

He shows me some steps and then backs up and watches. I can see him scrutinizing my every move…my feet…my hips…my posture…my hands…my arms…my eyes. He makes me stop mid-step to see where my weight is. It’s usually on the wrong foot. He winks at me a lot, and I still can’t really tell whether it’s when I got it right or when I messed up. Julio is challenging my dancing in a way that no one ever has before. The very fact that he pushes me so much tells me he sees potential in me. You don’t push people like that unless you think they can really do it. Dancing is the only thing I know where I can mess up every day and be corrected every day and still adore it without being frustrated.

I wish I could properly convey the unadulterated happiness of seeing Julio smile and hearing “Yes baby, that’s what I’m looking for” in his Guatemalan accent when I finally get it right. I am in love with salsa dancing.