Operation Salsa: phase 5 (success!)

If you’ve been following Operation Salsa, you know that I started private salsa lessons in March with a local salsa DJ, Brian.  For our first meeting, we danced for a few songs so Brian could get a sense of what I could do, how I moved, and what I needed to work on.  After each song, Brian would say something like “That was pretty good for an American” or “That was good, for a gringa.”  I finally stopped him and said “Okay, here is my goal: I want you to say ‘That was good.’  Period.”

My personal goal, set at that very first lesson, was for Brian to judge me as being just plain good.  I didn’t want to be judged on a special scale for non-latinas.

It’s now September.  After a 2-month hiatus from lessons (due to my busy work, travel, and visitor schedule), Brian and I finally met again.  As usual, we started by just dancing to a song to warm-up, without focusing on any particular move.  This was our conversation after our first warm-up dance:

Brian:  How long has it been since we danced together?
Me:      For a lesson?  A couple months.
Brian:  You’re good!
Me:      For an American?
Brian:  No.  You’re GOOD!
Me:      What?
Brian:  You know I DJ four nights a week, and I dance a lot when I’m at the clubs too.  But it’s hard to find girls who are good.  Really good.  Who know how to dance, know how to follow and can do a lot of turns with me.  But you can.  You’re GOOD!
Me:      Really?!?!
(and then I proceeded to jump up and down, squealing and clapping my hands)

Finally!  No qualifications, no “gringa handicap.”  I’m just plain good! 

 

 

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