How I Started Salsa and Bachata in Ho Chi Minh City: Hooked at My First Social
Contents
This page is a reference translation of the Japanese original (日本語の原文). It has not been checked by a native speaker. Please confirm details with each organizer.
The short version: Japanese friends invited me to a social (a gathering where people come to dance). I was hooked at once by the bright, happy energy there, and I started going to a dance school the next week. At first, everything was hard: the steps, the rhythm, leading and following, and the language. This article tells that story as I remember it.
About the writer
I live in Sapporo and am in my 50s. In 2019, I discovered salsa and bachata in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where I was living for work, and I still dance today. I am not good at it. I am not a teacher, and I have no connection to any dance school or organizer.
It began with an invitation from friends
It began when close Japanese friends invited me. They took me to a social, and I was hooked at once. What stayed with me most was how bright it was, and how full of happy energy. I did not look for it myself. I went because I was invited, and that was the start.
The next week: a trial lesson at a school
The week after that social, I went to a trial lesson at a local school. I decided to take lessons there, right on the spot. The lessons were group lessons, twice a week.
The best way to start differs from person to person. This is only my own case.
What was hard at first
These four things were hard at the start. It was not just one of them. It was all of them.
- Steps
- Rhythm (how to catch the beat)
- Leading and following
- Language (Vietnamese and English)
What is hard differs from person to person. After reading this, you do not need to think, “I must be able to do everything.”
What I think now
Looking back, I wish I had found the courage to try more and more. I now feel that taking a first step mattered more than dancing well. This is my own regret. It is not a rule I am recommending to anyone.
If you want to start in Sapporo
The idea for a first step is the same in Sapporo. Going to watch, then trying a class, is enough.
- For the whole picture of how to start, see Latin Dancing in Sapporo: How to Start.
- To choose a dance that suits you, see Which Dance Suits You? Choosing Among the 4 Dances.
- For ideas when you feel nervous at a social, see When You’re Too Shy to Dance at a Social.
You can also look up event dates on the Sapporo Latin Dance Calendar (札幌ラテンダンスカレンダー) (external site).
FAQ
Is it OK if I can’t do everything from the start?
Yes. I started when the steps, rhythm, leading, following and language were all hard for me. At the beginning, it is natural that there are things you cannot do.
Can I sign up for lessons right away?
I decided on the spot after a trial lesson. But whether a trial is offered, and how to sign up, differ by school. If you are unsure, it is fine to decide slowly after a trial lesson.
Can I start the same way in Sapporo?
The way of thinking is the same, but dates, fees and venues differ by school. This article does not give any specific information about Sapporo, so please check each school’s official notice.
