First Encounters with Salsa and Bachata

If 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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