First Encounters with Salsa and Bachata
Published on December 7th 2023, 6:56PM Last modified on January 31st 2024, 3:38PMIf you've read my previous posts about dancing, you'll know that my knowledge of dance was pretty much limited to the existence of ballet and what little I had seen in movies and on TV. In reality, I knew next to nothing about the dance world. That all changed with my exploration into the vibrant dance scenes of Dallas, where I first encountered Salsa and Bachata.
Discovering Dance in Dallas:
Deciding to explore dancing was one thing; knowing where to start was another. I ventured out in Dallas, armed with nothing but a Google search, looking for places to dance. After visiting a few spots, I quickly realized it wasn't easy to just jump into the dance scene. I was close to giving up when I stumbled upon the swing dance scene in Dallas, TX. It was a stroke of pure luck, and a timely suggestion from someone I met led me to a Wednesday night swing dance event.
My Swing Dancing Gateway:
The swing dance event was an eye-opener. They offered a free 30-minute lesson followed by a social dance. Being single in Dallas at the time, this setup was perfect for me. I had been attending these swing dances for a while and had begun to discover a whole new world I never knew existed. Through event invites on Facebook, I found myself continuously exploring new dance opportunities.
A Night at a Latin Dance Event:
One of these invites led me to a Latin dance event. I arrived early, only to find the venue almost deserted. Despite this, I decided to stay, partly because I had already paid the cover. As I settled in with a couple of drinks at the bar, the place slowly started filling up, transforming into a lively Latin dance event.
First Encounter with Salsa and Bachata:
This was my first experience at a Latin dance event, and it was unlike anything I had ever seen. The energy of Latin dancing was captivating and completely different from the swing dancing I was used to. I watched others dance, sipping my drink, and absorbing the scene. That night, I didn’t dance but took everything in from the sidelines.
Asking and Learning:
Driven by curiosity, I approached two women at the bar, eager to know more about what I was witnessing. They were kind enough to share the names of the dances with me: Salsa and Bachata. Just knowing the names of these captivating styles sparked an immediate interest in me to learn them. Their response was the key that opened the door to a whole new world of dance for me.
Asking and Learning:
Driven by curiosity, I approached two women at the bar, eager to know more about what I was witnessing. They were kind enough to share the names of the dances with me: Salsa and Bachata. Just knowing the names of these captivating styles sparked an immediate interest in me to learn them. Their response was the key that opened the door to a whole new world of dance for me.
Finding The Best Salsa Teacher in Dallas
I found David Herrera via facebook. At the time, I had many events for all kinds of things and I decided to check out one of his dance events. There was a free dance class at a upcoming dance event. It was in Fort Worth, TX. I Drove 45 mins, and finally by the time I got there the class was already over. I decided to talk to David close to the end of the event.
Starting My Journey:
After speaking briefly with David and getting his card, I learned about his group dance classes. The journey was long, but after months of practice, I finally felt ready to dance Salsa and Bachata myself.
Today, I can confidently say that I love the Salsa and Bachata dance scenes. They're among my favorites, with their stylish moves and widespread presence in major cities. For anyone wondering if these styles are worth learning, I assure you, they are. They offer not just dance moves, but a gateway to a vibrant community and a richer life experience. So, if you're in a situation like I was, know that there's a whole exciting world out there just waiting for you to step in.
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