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What initially started off as a ‘donate and have fun’ fundraising Salsa workshop captured the imagination of a couple of participants, both of whom fell in love with this vigorous dance.

“The workshop was organised by Devan Raghavan – a U.S.-based professional dancer and psychologist whilst on a visit to the city. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we roped in the services of a city-based choreographer and contemporary dancer Faisal, who agreed to give us private lessons for Rs. 600 a month,” says Latha Kurien Rajeev, one of the participants.

Thrice a week for two hours a day, at Latha’s home, a small but enthusiastic bunch of women gather for two hours of exertive, high-spirited fun. Most of the women, ranging from a 45-year-old to a youngster of 19, have had no prior formal training in any dance form, western or classical. Yet, surprisingly, all of them seem to share a love for dance and dream of dispelling the ‘closet dancer’ tag.

An avid member of the class is Sheeba Jayan a 38- year old homemaker, who says “I discouraged myself from learning dance as a child because I thought I had no innate rhythm. Self-pity made me a closet dancer. Salsa classes made my dreams come true. Now I can out rock my teenage daughter on any dance floor!”

Starting the session with a few minutes of warm-up exercises, dance master Faisal takes the women through the basic steps of Cuban variety of Salsa dance, helping each one get the all important ‘step timing’ or footwork in harmony with the beat.

“It is relatively easy to get the basic steps in a quick- quick-slow rhythm” (where the quick gets one beat and the slow gets two beats), says Faisal. “You’ll be surprised how quickly and fluidly your body grasps the tempo,” he adds.

Revelling in its fluidity is 25-year-old Shalini Nair an up-and-coming filmmaker. She says, “Recently, I started watching the reality show ‘So, you think you can dance? ’(on AXN) and was quite impressed by the different styles of western dance and the apparent effortlessness of the dancers. Salsa, I feel has an incredible vibrancy that makes you feel so energetic.”

Her friend Indu, a conservation architect, seconds her opinion and says “not only is it all about fun, but it is also a great way to stay in shape”.

With a number of discos opening up in the weekends in the city hotels, the ladies now have an opportunity to try out their skills on the dance floor. Says Latha, “I wish more women in the city would take up contemporary dance. It’s such a thrill to awaken the natural rhythm of your body.”

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