They
met through salsa, and now it's their life (as well as four
children!). Terry and Yolande Lewis run salsa classes six
nights a week all over the country, and enjoy every minute
of it.
For
Terry it's a complete change from his old life in the City
where he commuted from Canvey Island every day.
"This
is so different - I would never go back to that", he
said. "It's great being able to make a living out of
something I enjoy so much".
Terry's
life changed when he was cajoled into visiting a salsa club
in London. Hooked from the start, he began to go five nights
a week and then met Yolande, a fitness instructor, at Bar
Salsa in Charing Cross.
They
gave up their jobs five years ago for full-time dancing, and
have since seen many couples pair up romantically.
"It's
a great way to meet people", said Yolande. "We rotate
dancing partners, so even if you turn up to a lesson with
a partner you have to dance with other people too. It's a
real ice-breaker, helps improve your dancing, and makes the
whole thing more sociable."
Salsa
must be one of the most sociable dances.
"At
salsa you could ask 15 different men to dance in one evening
- without sneering glances from other women, or jealous looks
from your boyfriend,which you might get in an
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ordinary club. It's very close, rhythmic, hippy dance, but
completely non-threatening, and lots of fun".
Yolande and Terry
founders of Salsa Chillout
And
salsa dancers seem to smile so much more than regular clubbers.
"The
music is addictive, it makes you want to get up and dance,
it's almost like you can't help yourself. That's why people
get such a buzz form it".
But
can anyone pick up the salsa steps?
"The
basic steps are very easy to follow, it's amazing how much
you can learn in a short time," said Yolande. "People
come in and say they've got two left feet, and they can't
dance, but after just one lesson they can do the basic steps.
Often men doubt they will be able to learn but turn out to
be beautiful dancers.
"In
fact things have turned around - we used to have more women
than men, so women had to take their turn sitting out but
now we are seeing more men than women. I've |
no
idea why, but it's a nice change!"
Perhaps
it's the idea that the man is in charge again... in salsa
the man leads the woman, and controls the dance. The woman
has to read the signs to know when to turn or spin. Communication
is vital.
I don't
want to get philosophical about such a sexy dance, but doesn't
that sound familiar?"
Terry
and Yolande run LA style classes at Southend, Chelmsford,
Marks Tey (nr Colchester), Billericay and Brentwood.
They
also organise quarterly salsa workshops at Marconi in Chelmsford.
For more details
contact
Terry
Lewis 07974 123 567 or
Yolande
Lewis 07815 123 567
www.salsachillout.com |
