#first time dancing

On the same note of meeting people, you choose to attend free salsa classes. Salsa is social so hopefully you speak to people. Salsa is also out of your league. You have zero rhythm sense, you know this all too well, with how your piano classes started with the metronome VERY early, and how it always dragged down your Piano ABRSM exam scores. That and your aural…You love music, you just admit having no talent in it.

You must be questioning, why choose salsa then? Its SOCIAL, you are not. Its DANCE, you have two-left feet. Its LIBERAL, you’re reserved. So WHY!? Partly, it’s the whole “you never know till you do it attitude’ (some call it FOMO, you disagree) and partly, because you HAVE been to salsa parties. You see, you have a bestie who dances. She dragged you to your first salsa social while travelling overseas. You thought all you needed to do, was go with her so that her mum will let both of you go out at night (you were in your teens then). What your friend did not warn you is that there is no such thing as being a wallflower at salsa parties. People there are exuberant, and they will drag you to the dance floor. Thankfully, you are not the lead and a good lead, makes you look good anyway. Was that the end of your salsa parties…funnily it was not. You do end up going to a few more, just for the heck of it.

The natural progression therefore is to take Salsa classes in Melbourne. It is free – no excuse to not attend. It is nearby – no excuse that it is far…and gets your steps per day in. It helps you meet people – checks another box. It is a challenge but not entire new – lowers the barriers to entry. Hence, you sign up for a 4pm Sunday class in the 2nd week of being in Melbourne city.

Was it fun? YES! Surprisingly you enjoyed it. It helped that the instructor was hilarious and made you feel comfortable in the setting.

Did you meet people? YES! You ran into Tanika, who like you wanted to challenge herself and meet people. So as two first-timers to the dancing world, you got along and quickly swapped numbers. Tanika came with a friend, Maiwenn. Voila! 2 in 1!

It helped a lot, that all three of you agreed it is hard to meet people and develop friendship. Tanika had just returned to Australia after more than 3 years overseas. Maiwenn was an exchange student, who have met people over her time in Australia but says those from parties and bars do not truly mean making friends. To keep this friendship going, all three of you agree to sign up for next Sun and decide to hand out a little before heading home.

You end up introducing them to bubble tea! A little stop at Milksha (it was raining, and most shops close by 6pm on a Sun), but hey Asian shops always open late. You naturally, drink BBT but it was your first time at Milksha! You can’t compare with SG since you haven’t had it in SG. BUT you can say it has standard. Australian milk = good milk tea. Also, you LOVE the options (free of charge) of having your drink coming Hot – Warm – Room Temperature – No Ice – Some Ice – A bit more Ice – 100% Iced. You have heard of Hot, with ice, without ice. Maybe a less ice option. BUT the RANGE of temperatures at this MIlksha was stunning even to you. Let alone your uninitiated salsa buddies.