Week 7 – featuring the lovely Rachel as instructor. I had to drop the boss off at home and I was running late for class. Have you ever noticed how the chances of getting stuck at every red light are increase in proportion to the amount of minutes you are running (Steve’s rule #43). Owing to my lateness, I did not have chance to drop in at home, so I borrowed a clean shirt from the bosses eldest son on the way through.

This week we learned a new salsa step and a new spin. The salsa step consists of stepping back on the left foot, crossing the right foot over, bringing the left foot beside the right as the left knee bends, bend the right knee and step back, repeating the whole thing on the right side. It’s a bit like a drunken stagger so it did not take me too long to get the hang of it.

The best part about dancing is the spins. It makes your partner smile and gives you a chance to get back in step. This week we learnt a new spin. You start by spinning your partner clockwise while walking halfway around them in an anti-clockwise direction. Then lifting the left arm the lead spins also in a clockwise direction. All spins end with the girl – as they look better when spinning – so to finish the girl gets spun again in a clockwise direction and the guy catches her on the right hip. This allows the dancers to get back into the dance frame. To tell the truth I don’t really get this one.

Classes seem to be getting easier. I think the all the practice at the dance parties is starting to pay off. I can do most of the steps without watching my feet and the extra confidence helps when it comes to leading. Pretty soon I might even be able to talk and dance at the same time. I am sure most of my partners think I am stupid as every time they talk to me when I am dancing I usually grunt or answer in monosyllabic language - hi, yes, no, fine, sorry. The pedantic people who usually correct my grammar and spelling will point out that sorry is actually 2 syllables but I am yet to find a single syllable word that conveys the same meaning.

I went to a birthday party on Saturday night for one of the guys that does the advanced dance lessons. I figured I could do a bit of socialising, drinking and do my homework all at once. We had our own dance floor outside and a magnificent view of Brisbane City lights from the front lawn. All of the dancing was Salsa, you can salsa to just about any music. The guys taught me a different variation on the girl, guy, and girl twirl, which felt a lot more comfortable. It was basically the same only you swapped from the left to right hand before the guy turned and back to the left again when the girl turned. I am not sure if it was the alcohol or the fact that I had a great partner but it certainly felt easier.

On the way back to the car I practiced the new Salsa step we had learned in class. An important bit of advice for other beginners – don’t do this in front of traffic officers before jumping in your vehicle.