Salsa Class

We finally caught ourselves on video! It was primarily because this time we brought V with us for 2 reasons: the Salsa schedule happened to be on T's birthday (we thought we should all be together and go out for a family dinner afterwards) and V wants to see how our lessons are going because he himself will be dancing Salsa during their year-end program in school.

So V filmed us and took some pictures. We normally average between 7 to 10 couples or roughly 20 people but yesterday, quite a few were out of the country or are busy with other things, so we had plenty of space.

Seeing a video of us made me realize how true M's (our instructor) words are: exaggerate, exaggerate, exaggerate! We (I believe I can speak for everyone) thought (felt) we were moving hard and really swinging but as the video proves....NOT.

Tango

This video was sent to us by M our Salsa instructor just before we started with our Tango classes, supposedly to inspire us and look forward to doing Tango. I suspect it was more like a 'don't say I didn't warn you video'.

I have now lost count of the number of classes we've had but I do know that I underestimated the dance. Tonight was a bit of a disappointment as we enter part 2 (I wouldn't even dare to call it 'level') of our classes where the combination steps just got harder. We kinda breezed through part 1, but only as opposed to how we are doing in part 2 (sigh).

I love M for maybe thinking that we might be able to do what the couple is doing in this video...even in the distant future - though I highly doubt as M is grounded and realistic. I have met the most wonderful and fun people in these classes that have made life easier in this town. Thank god we are dancing amongst friends and having fun while doing it, otherwise...what were we thinking?

I have strengthened my resolve to come away with something from this post apart from the language and by dog it will be this challenging dance even if I have to grow a couple more legs to do it.

Tango!

Tonight was our first day (?) of Tango classes and this is on top of the Salsa classes we have been attending the past 6 months. The 'tangueros' - this is exceptionally funny for me because in Tagalog tanguero means someone who pours drinks. Not a bartender but a person designated to pour drinks in a small gathering of friends - as Martin, our wonderful instructor fondly calls us, are reunited 'salsaleros' (Martin's pet name for us in our salsa class).

Yup, pretty much the same people attending salsa. Hmmm, he may be onto something with the 'tanguero' thing, as we finish off some evenings with champagne to celebrate the effort.

The Tangueras

and Tangueros

So, we learned the 8-step basic, 1-2 pirouette, 4-step break (I swear Martin was making up all these names along the way). Sounds easy? Wait till you have to coordinate it with your partner's steps.

Cooling our heels... literally - there's a lot of sliding & kicking in Tango, whew!

T & I thought we should get something out of this post and apart from the language what else can we come away with from Latin America? Baile - ole!