12/07/09

Neither Becca nor I have ever been particularly good dancers. Thus, when our new Columbian friends invited us to a Salsa Club this past Saturday, there was an outbreak of apprehension. We were left to rely on the force of two resources: hope and intoxication.

For the first half hour at the club, our cover remained intact as we sat around conversing in a booth with our four hosts. It was not long, however, before each of us was asked to dance; Greg by Andrea and Becca by Jose Luis. It is not insignificant that our two female hosts are strikingly beautiful and dance with a fluidity that led to the development of crushes for both Greg and Becca. All four of the Columbians dance skillfully, and this did not help our confidence. I have danced probably 1000 times to Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean and Man in the Mirror, and the results are still painful to witness. With this completely new style of music and dance, the expectations were that much more dim.

It is difficult to describe how the dancing evolved on this night, but there are a couple of highlights that reflect the quality of the experience. As Andrea patiently coached me though some of the basic Salsa steps, Yarith carefully watched and critiqued. At last, I finally mastered one of the elementary steps, and Jadit commented: “bueno, pero un poco mas sexy.” This comment has since become a favorite expression around our house. Becca did not fare too much better, and she was met with some similarly non-subtle commentary. The most memorable line was “eso, pero con ritmo,” or “like that, but with rhythm.” Overall, it was an incredibly fun, albeit humbling evening. Tonight, we’re going over to the Columbians’ house to continue teaching them English, which they have requested. It will be nice to feel a little more competent.