cyberspace junkyard

The D.D.G.G.

I've always wanted to try authentic Latin American dancing so when a friend offered me a free class with Latin Explosion, I jumped at the chance and pulled on my high heels (not that I'm ever without them) and my knee-length flouncy skirt.

The class was a little disorganised, but the dancing was very cool and rather different - they call it "Salsa on 2 from NY" - basically the emphasis is on the 2nd part of the beat, and the turns are a lot sharper. There are also plenty of "Shines" which are individual steps where you break away from your partner and do your own individual hip-wiggling, arm-posturing steps. It took about 15 minutes for me to warm up to it, but it's is easy enough for beginners to pick up within a couple of classes.

After learning the routine for the night, we danced with rotating partners for 40 minutes or so. The steps were great - but I've now discovered a previously enheralded group of Salsa dancers that I've dubbed the D.D.G.G.s or Dodgy Dancing Gay Guys. Mind you, they're very nice and most of them can dance. It just worried me a little when they shake their hips more than I do! =)

After the class, some of the more serious dancers (mostly male!) hung around so I found myself learning a ton of advanced moves with the aforementioned D.D.G.G.s.

Now dancing on the whole is fantastic fun - but I was reminded how great partner dancing is - it's actually really difficult if you're confident of your steps and know more than your partner to let him lead! Learning to be submissive and follow someone else's lead seems to be a recurring theme not only in relationships but in salsa dancing too!

Now on to master some tap dancing!