What's Salsa dancing like and will it help my relationship with dh?

[adozenroses]

Dh and I have hit a rocky patch lately and are trying to make an attempt to fix our relationship. We have just stopped talking and don't make any effort for each-other anymore. Dh had started lying to me and hiding things, but has since come clean and we are trying to move forward. All I will say is f$%&ing friends reunited!!!!

Anyway, he has come up with the idea of doing some kind of hobby together, like a class of some sort. He mentioned stuff he was interested in, but I thought dancing classes would be better.

...and as I've never done salsa before, I thought I would ask on here for opinions.

salsa is great - I go every week. The classes are friendly, we have a laugh, it's not easy but a good teacher will take you step by step, leaving time for the advanced class to move on. The music is fabulous - you will love it.

Wonderful wonderful wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!

However, salsa is partner dancing and you won't progress (or have much fun) if you only dance with each other.

It's harder for the men at first because they have to lead (so maybe it's harder for the women as they have to be lead). It's great fun though.

I've been salsa dancing for about 10 years now. Wonderful! Adore it!!!!!!!!!!!

Go enjoy!

I have actually just come back from a Salsa night

Great idea in many ways - happens to be dw's and my hobby, too - but I need to emphasise ML's point once more:
The learning curve for the chap is quite steep whereas women can become improve fairly quickly by dancing with more experienced partners.

I would recommend spending the first month or so just dancing with each other during free style so that you improve at the same rate and spend lots of time together!

Hope that makes sense...it is 4am and I am shattered!

Thanks for the advice. I will tell my dh about dancing with others - although I would prefer to be able to salsa before dancing with someone else

The good thing about dancing with others is that you don't emphasis each other's bad habits.

When dancing in the club (after class) dance with each other alot as DaddyJ says, but both of you should try to dance with others and don't let any other beginner tell you that you're not doing it right. They are also learning and so may be compensating for their own mistakes.

Hey DaddyJ... are you a Londoner? Where do you dance?

it is great fun and good exercise - and don't be worried about being rubbish, if you go to a beginners class everyone is in the same boat and you have a laugh at how rubbish you all are . Agree though that it is a bit harder for men at first as there's more pressure with 'leading' so go gentle on him!

A lot of the classes I've been to have a 'free dancing' session after the lesson, where they just put on the music and leave everyone to it - so you can choose your partner(s) and have a practice (or choose to sit down with a well earned drink if you prefer!).

Meant to say that most of the classes seem to work on a partner rotatation basis, so you dance with just about everyone in the class for a few minutes each. This seems to work very well, also good for breaking the ice.

MarsLady - a Mumsnetter and a Salsera! Nice to bump into you!
My regular venues are in SW London - Wessex House (Clapham) is always good but shame about the air conditioning.
I do venture across town sometimes, e.g. was at the brilliant La Scala last night. And used to love a trip to the legendary Loughborough Hotel in Brixton.

What I love about Salsa is that you get a massive buzz without any need for booze or (tut tut) drugs.
I had 4 hours sleep last night yet felt pretty good today and thoroughly enjoyed my time with dd.

We actually went to a salsa dance club last night and we had so much fun. We actually danced together, which has never happened,ever!!

We also danced with others, and they were so friendly. It was such a great atmosphere, we will certainly be back next week

We've probably danced together DaddyJ cos Wessex House is one of my fave venues and when I'm not at a birth I'm there. Also Salsa Republic on a Saturday... though I've not made it there (sob) for the last few weeks.

Make yourself known man! Hmmmmmmmmmm........ how to spot a MNer at a salsa club. I'll be the one with the shaven head! lol Ooh, but I'm not there this week....so see you next week.

la Scala is only brilliant (spit spit!!!!!!!!!) during this bank holiday. Rubbish the rest of the time!

Have you tried Hackney Central? Robert's replacement venue (after Loughborough). Might find myself there this week as I'm missing Thursday.

It's a small world!

I won't be going to Wessex this week either but might try next week.
I am the one with a full head of black hair and a cheeky grin

My current haunt is a new place in Kingston - I am a bit of a Cuban afficionado
so always on the look-out for those rare Rueda/Casino occasions.
Hence La Scala on a BH: I love the Cuban room! The main cross-body floor is
far too packed after 11pm, it's murder down there (apparently).

The improvement in the cuban room is rather recent. The squitty wee man that runs the whole shebang suddenly realised that that was where the money was at.

If you ever travel across town to North London, Buffalo Bar (next to Highbury and Islington tube) is the place to go. A great night out.

SW is pretty much as far as a Norf Londoner like myself goes. Maybe I'll spend the night at my sister's one weekend cos she's not too far from Kingston. Anything for Cuban salsa.... which I prefer above and beyond the cross body nonsense. A woman can only spin so many times without it becoming tiresome. And some of the blokes are only in it for themselves.

Have you tried Republic? Pretty good night out. When Daryl's playing the music is pretty good.

MarsLady, you speak my language!!
The Cuban resistance is alive and sizzling!!
Viva la revolucion!!

I admit that cross-body looks pretty impressive, particularly all the simultaneous spinning, but it seems very clinical, very sterile.
Cuban is so much more fun!

I have heard lots and lots of good things about the Buffalo Bar
and there is also a place in Tottenham Court Road where Osbanis teaches
but I find driving halfway around London and back really quite knackering, particularly during the week. My age showing there..

When is the next big night at the Colloseum (Vauxhall)? They sometimes have these nights with a cross-body room, Cuban room etc.

You've just missed the last Collesium night... that was Saturday. It's normally the end of the month. www.salsarepublic.co.uk That should show you the next dates. Actually there's a biggie coming up on Monday 4th June iirc.

I can't stop laughing at the thought of you asking women to dance and saying..... Mars?????? or me saying DaddyJ??????

i just found a place locally to me that does it on a tues evening

one of my male friends has agreed to come with me to do it

i've wanted to do it for ages

Sorry!!!!!!!!! This saturday 2nd June. I'm away this weekend though... such a shame!

Excellent! You'll love it lou!

i love dancing adn i love that type of music, so i am hoping so

El Grande, that's the one, thanks!

This Saturday night, 2 June?!
Hmmmm, might have to ask for night pass from dw.
These Cuban specials are too much fun and, yes, it's only recently that Casino has made a comeback in London Town.
I am lapping it up!

at bumping into you one day!!

lou, you'll love it

yay!

I'll be the truly gorgeous one! PMSL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

its fantastic but only if your dh has an ear for music. I've been salsaing for years and love it but i took dp and it was a disaster