Salsa Lessons – Part 1: Two Left Feet

The dance studio was on the second floor of a crumbling colonial house in the old town, with tall green shutters and a ceiling fan that moved the heat around without cooling it. Valentina stood at the back of the room in borrowed shoes, listening to a brass band on a speaker and wishing she were somewhere else.

"You must be the new one," said a man at her elbow. "I am Andrés. I have been told to stand next to you."

"By whom?"

"By my aunt, who runs the school, and who says you look like someone who needs a partner who will not complain."

She looked at him. He was tall and easy, with curly black hair and a wide, patient smile. He wore a loose white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and sandals instead of shoes.

"I will step on you," said Valentina.

"Everyone steps on me. It is my gift."

The teacher clapped. The music started. Valentina counted under her breath, one-two-three, pause, five-six-seven, and promptly kicked Andrés in the shin.

"Very good," he said, wincing. "Again."

By the end of the hour she had kicked him four times, trodden on both his feet and fallen over her own ankle. Andrés never once flinched. He just offered his hand, hauled her back up, and counted the beat with a cheerful, unbothered smile.

"You are very kind," said Valentina, afterwards, drinking water on the balcony.

"I am very resilient," said Andrés. "There is a difference."

She laughed, and felt something in her chest ease.

"Can I ask you something?" he said.

"Yes."

"Why salsa? A lot of people come for the holidays and never return."

Valentina looked down at the courtyard, where a woman was selling mangoes with chilli from a cart.

"My boyfriend left last month," she said. "He said I was too stiff. I wanted to prove that I could move."

Andrés was quiet. "You are not stiff," he said. "You are careful. It is different."

"Is it?"

"Yes. Careful people are the best dancers, when they stop being afraid."

She turned and looked at him. His eyes were warm.

"Would you teach me?" she asked. "Properly. Not just the steps."

"Yes," said Andrés. "But I have a condition."

"Name it."

"You must tell me when you are enjoying yourself. I would like to know when the fear leaves."

Valentina's heart gave a small, hopeful jump. "Yes," she said. "Deal."

"Green?" he asked.

"Green," said Valentina. "Very green. One-two-three, Andrés."