China Salsa Dancing Stories: Living La Vida Salsa

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For many Beijingers salsa is no longer an unfamiliar word. In the past, people may have thought of a Mexican cold tomato sauce flavoured with cilantro, chillies and onions when salsa was mentioned. No more. It now has a completely different meaning, representing a new trend in salsa dancing, a branch of Latin dance that has become a vigorous, exotic and fashionable sport.

More elegant than disco or hip hop, with more freedom of movement than waltz or tango, salsa has conquered the world's dance scene with astonishing speed. This magical dance arrived in Japan and Korea at the end of last century. When it came to China in 2002, it immediately became a fashionable pastime for white-collar professionals and young people in Beijing and Shanghai.

Salsa is not easily defined; it is a distillation of many Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances, with each playing a large part in its evolution. The dance is similar to tango, a more commonly accepted dance in China, in that both have patterns of six steps danced over eight counts of music. The dances share many of the same moves. In salsa, however, turns are an important feature, so the overall look and feel is quite different from that of tango. Tango generally moves forward and backward, while salsa has more of a side to side feel.

This definition may make salsa appear a bit hard to comprehend, but according to Liu Zimeng, general manager of the Bailando Dancing Club, one of Beijing's most professional dance schools, anyone who has a desire to dance the salsa can do it, regardless of age, physical status or agility.

Liu said, "You don't especially have to be an expert in dancing to learn salsa. You can dance salsa even if you're rhythmically challenged and suffer from the 'two-left-feet' syndrome." Among the first to introduce salsa to Beijing, Liu thinks its ease of mastery might be one of the reasons for salsa's worldwide popularity. One only has to take six 1.5-hour classes to get the skills needed to step onto a Latin dance club floor and dance the night away.

Without question, salsa has many benefits.

It is one of the best forms of exercise that will help you achieve goals such as weight reduction and muscle gain. As you learn more salsa moves, practicing will boost your physical endurance and range of motion. It is an ideal way to strengthen one's cardiovascular system, and it contributes to a good posture and body alignment. In addition, it increases your flexibility and stamina encouraging a total body stretch.

Cristina Zhang, a college student, turned to salsa dancing after she got bored with exercising at a gym. "Repeating movements in front of a mirror is no fun." After her first salsa class, she said she was quite satisfied with it. "I enjoy the ambience very much. Everyone comes here to dance for fun, not to compete. And there's the interaction that you could never get from one of those machines you exercises with at the gym. I think dance is more suitable for me."

Cristina is sure that she will attend class regularly. "I was told that dancing salsa can burn up to 10 calories a minute, without the harmful side effects caused by high-impact exercises such as running. I could almost feel my belly burn."

Zhang Jing, a sales representative for a multinational company, was immediately attracted by the "hot beat of the music, exotic atmosphere and movement of the body" that she experienced during a salsa performance in a club. She immediately began taking classes and thinks dancing salsa helps relieve her work-related stress. She said she forgets everything but dancing as soon as the music begins, as she becomes totally immersed in the rhythm and the beat. She is convinced that salsa dancing will remain an important part of her life.

Along with its physical and mental benefits, salsa is a fitness programme that could greatly enhance your social life. You will meet many friendly, fun-loving others while engaging in this fitness regime. It is a romantic, passionate dance for romantic people who like to have fun and an excellent avenue for people to meet new friends and make new acquaintances.

Salsa can enhance anyone's grace, poise, and style, while the dance helps to develop confidence and sense of showmanship. It develops the senses of coordination, discipline and control, and allows dancers to develop a sense of achievement. 

Lex Xie, a financial consultant, said, "You'll become more comfortable with yourself. You'll find confidence that extends far beyond your dancing." He said his confidence expanded after his very first lesson, as he conquered his doubts and fears.

Liu said, "It is precisely the magic of salsa that Chinese people may fail to immediately adapt to this tropical and sexy dance, because of the cultural conflict, but changes begin to emerge both physically and mentally after two or three classes."

Liu said there are about 13 salsa dance schools in Beijing, generally charging 50 yuan per class. "It's a lifetime investment in fun, poise, confidence, improved personality and new friends."

In the end you may wonder "What am I going to wear to a salsa class?" If you have dance shoes, bring them; otherwise, leather-soled shoes will do. Just dress casually and for comfort.

And always remember the words of world-famous salsa dance artist Tony Duarte: "Dance to have fun; if you are not having fun, there is no reason to dance."

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