Rosie chilling out

The clocks have gone back, the rain has gone from torrential to insistent and the sun may be trying to make a weak foray through the clouds. Let’s be honest, our weather is shite. We might get two weeks of sun if we’re lucky and they usually arrive in the middle of exams or when you’re on your holliers. We could use some heat. Some passion. Some salsa!

Those South Americans have the right idea when it comes to dance. Lots of gyration, hips a-moving and body a-pulsing. Lord I’m warming up just thinking about it. It’s no wonder salsa is so popular in Ireland. Now it’s you’re chance to see what the fuss is about. Welcome to lesbian salsa!

Rosie, a rather shy lady despite her ability on the floor (dancefloor people!), has been hooked for years, ever since her mates showed her just how bad they looked boogieing to dodgey 80s music..

Four years ago I was at a party where two friends were dodgy dancing to All Night Long, or something with a salsa beat, and we were talking about salsa, saying it would be good to do lessons but even better to have lesbian salsa lessons. I thought it might be fun to do something non-pub based, meet new people and learn to dance. Blokes stepping on my toes and telling me how to dance didn’t do it for me.

So I contacted a few salsa instructors in Dublin and the most positive feedback was from Danzon, a well known salsa dance school. They booked a dance studio in town and provided two teachers and I put up fliers and sent out emails and we’ve been going ever since.

She was hooked the first time she look her partner by the hand, the energy and craic got under her skin. It’s been 1-2 and turn on 3 for years.

The dancing, the music, meeting new people. There’s nothing better than learning a new move, being with two left feet at the start of the class and then mastering it by the end. The fact that it is a lesbian class adds something special. It is a welcoming friendly atmosphere and after some initial formality people relax into it and generally really enjoy it.

We rotate partners every few minutes so you get to dance with everyone and do not need to bring a dance partner with you.

So, not only do you not have to drag your reluctant partner with you, singles can get out and meet people somewhere other than the pub scene, bless it.

I think it is easy to pick up the basic steps and build on them, so you are dancing from day one. Also the music just makes you feel good. After a week’s work there is nothing better than an hour of dancing (and lesbian company! ) to wipe your cares away. It is a great way to start the weekend.

Without meaning to sound like that bloke in pub, what do they do; what’s it like without a man?

It is less formal than a mixed salsa class, which tend to be quite serious. We have a laugh and the teachers are great. It took them a bit of getting used to not saying guy and girl as they specified the dance moves though. As there are different moves for each person, we use leader and follower, the leader deciding on the move and the follower going with it.

The only other difference is the teachers say we pick up the moves quicker than their other classes, which may point to innate lesbian musicality and rhythm!

I knew it! Those brothers thought that they were the ones with the talent, but no, we just need some Gloria Estefan and we’re tearing it up. There is a new session of salsa classes starting up on April 9th. The whole thing sounds like a hoot and a holler, zero dance ability is required, but if you know your rumba from your merengue they’ll cover advanced stuff too.

It starts Friday 9th April at 7pm in a dance studio in the city centre. 8 weeks €80. The teachers still have to be paid, irrespective of number of students, so I would ask everyone to pay up front so the classes can keep going.

Anyone interested can contact me salsa@findout.ie to book a place and I can send them directions and answer any questions.

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