world of salseros

I finished the 5-week Salsa Beginner 1 today, and ostensibly as part of the 'graduation', we were all invited to join in the Attitude Dance Studio social night. After five weeks of hanging out of wannabes who can't really dance (yet), an hour at the part totally opened my eyes to the world of salsa dancing.

Watching the instructors and advanced students dance, I realised why it is called a hot and sexy dance. This had kind of escaped me in beginner class. It is also an immensely social dance, with frequent interchange of partners and lots of casual and spontaneous fun.

One interesting thing I noticed is the role each gender played in the social dynamic there. Girls largely outnumbered the guys, but on average the guys seemed to be much better dancers. I attribute this to the fact that each relies on a very difference source of attraction.

For the guys, the most important thing is to dance well. The good dancers there can dance with anyone they want. And if the girl doesn't know the moves, the guy can still sort of lead her through the simpler ones. But as long as he is better than the girl, he is in control. Beginner dancers like myself would never think of approaching anyone above our level. Because in about 1 minute I'd have used up all the moves I know, and she couldn't teach me anything new.

For the girls, the most important thing is to dress provocatively attractively, and you will definitely be invited onto the dance floor. It doesn't really matter how good you are, because a good dancer can still lead you through the steps.

So the guys need to work really hard to get good, and the few that make it to the top can get any girl they want. For the girls, sometimes becoming too good will just intimidate the guys. So maybe it's more important to focus on the appearance and less on the dance steps.

Hmm... in some perverse way, all that seems to mirror real life.