“123…567…123…567…” It just won’t leave my head! As a beginner at U of T’s Salsa Club, that count was all I said (out loud, of course) for two hours straight at last week’s Tuesday night session. Besides getting over the lack of “4” in the counting, I had to muster the coordination to at least attempt the many “simple” steps and spins thrown at the 30 dancers who gathered for two hours of sizzling salsa.

I admit I was a little nervous when I was offered the chance to try this club out. I’m no Fred Astaire, and I don’t even like salsa with my Tostitos! But I’d rather eat a jar then find myself stumbling around the dance floor, with every misstep watched by U of T’s most electrifying dance club.

Feeling hopelessly ill-prepared for what was to come, but with my friend Margarita along for moral support (and, I suspect, to get in a few laughs at my expense), we headed in.

I was comforted by the fact that many other non-dancers had also made this leap. One brave soul confessed, “All I know about the salsa is how to spell it.” We were quickly reassured by a dance veteran that we were in the right place, for he and many others had started off as rookies as well. The Salsa Club, headed by a small group of staff and student salsa enthusiasts, meets Tuesday evenings for two hour sessions designed to accommodate all skill levels.

Sebastian, one of our instructors, called for a warmup. No problem, I figured; just a few stretches. When instead he started waving his arms and leading the group in complicated step patterns, a lively salsa beat blaring, I nearly ran for the exit. Although assured that the warmup was designed to simply introduce the steps, and all would be taught much more slowly, it set the tone for a confusing and challenging evening.

Throughout the session we learned the five basic salsa steps, including a few flashy spins that looked great the few times I managed to lead them properly. A lifelong dancer, Margarita has an ease with movement I could barely get my head-never mind my feet-around. It gave me something to strive for. Despite some painful setbacks, thanks to her patience and some good-humoured help from our instructor, I became better able to participate in what Margarita calls “a conversation through dance.”

The beginner class was loose and relaxed, and there were lots of laughs mixed in with the crushed toes. We advanced at our own pace, and everybody was soon loving it.

Across the room, the steps the advanced class were learning looked impossible, especially the “shines”-long routines that focus on combining fancy footwork with a dramatic dancing style. We were all quite impressed and a little inspired, since those dancers had once been on our side of the floor.

Salsa at its most intense is incredibly complicated and can be competitive, but to call it a full-fledged sport might be a bit of a stretch. In its form and philosophy it is very much a dance, though certainly an athletic one. And as the soaring popularity of the U of T club has proven, salsa is an exciting way to get fit, meet lots of energetic people, and have a great time, all accompanied by the most upbeat soundtrack around. And I guarantee you, if nothing else, after one session you’ll have the counting down pat.

The practice schedule and info on upcoming Salsa Club events like the Hart House Festival of Dance can be found at http://salsa.sa.utoronto.ca