www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Just winding down a series of ten private lessons in salsa dancing right now, and all I can say is "what took me so long!" Simply put, even at the still elementary level I'm currently at - it's a blast.

Kind of slow going at first, particularly if you haven't had previous Latin dance experience. But the muscle memory starts to kick in soon enough, and already I can get through some reasonably complex series of moves in pretty good shape - even if I won't be challenging "El Gordo" for supremacy on the Key Largo dance floor anytime soon.

The group classes also open up some nice social opportunities. And there's a 'balls-out hot' half-Tica, half-Ecuadoran receptionist at the studio that I'm swooning over. This being LA though, I'm sure she not only has a boyfriend but 20 other guys hitting on her on a nightly basis...

At any rate, if you've got the time, the inclination, and the cash, give it a shot - I don't think you'll regret it.

I have been dancing for 25 years and greatly enjoy Salsa, Merengue and Tango. Not a big fan of cumbia. Probably other than learning the language it is the next best thing you can do to fit in here. Ticas absolutely love to dance and are good at it. They are so suprised when a gringo can dance that they light up.

I recommend Castros in Barrio mexico for great nonpro dancing. Lots of girls and great dancing if you just want to watch.

I also can always tell whether a girl will be good in bed (pro or nonpro) if I dance with her. The only notable exception is the beautiful but crazy Barbara at KL who dances great but is a lousy lay.

Glad to hear you are enjoying it GR, just akes a little time. Everyone can get at least functional with a little effort.

BKTUNA
I am never going home

I am giving lessons at the SL next week!

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A Costa Rica Toast:
Here's to Looking like Movie Stars, Partying like Rock Stars and phucking like PORN STARS!

When I said everyone, I forgot Papi . I meant almost everyone.


BKTUNA
I am never going home

So GetRhythm now has rhythm …

Should you now change your handle to GotRhythm …

Mendo

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"It takes a lot of good beer to make a great wine"

Perhaps in CR, one can imagine themselves a big fish in a small pond. But until I can afford the black 911 Carrera and the mansion in Beverly Hills, here I'm merely a sardine in a very large ocean.

Such are the realities of life in LA - even when dealing with $12/hour receptionists...

Time to shave my balls

Salsa is fairly complicated. People spend years and years really learning it. It is my favorite music though.

If a gringo wanted to learn latin dancing I would recommend learning merengue first. It has a simple 2 beat rhythm and someone could pick this up fairly quickly.

Of course the best dance to really really get to know your chica is reggaeton. learning this is highly recommended

Reggaeton is more of freestyle bump and grind rather than an actual dance. For many of us the same style we danced to late 70s Funk and anything by Prince works for reggaeton music,


Currently sitting at home watching "Super Sabado" on VM Latino which is a ton of reggaeton and other Latin videos with smoking hot dancers.


BKTUNA
I am never going home

Lol,

song called Papichulo just played and I swear the gangsta guy in it looks like our Papichulo with a little darker skin a kangol, cigar and handful of Franklins.


BKTUNA
I am never going home

I was considering taking some dance lessons during the day on my next trip to CR in November. Can anyone recommend a dance studio in San Jose area? Preferably, one with bi-lingual instructors (I suspect that will be difficult to find). For those who have taken lessons while in CR what can one expect to pay for lessons by the hour? Thanks for your input.

ICE

IceColdOne,
While I don't know of any dance studio in San Jose, per se, I assume by the fact that you are looking for a bilingual instructor, you don't speak Spanish. The Costa Rican Language Academy (CRLA), in San Pedro, offers inexpensive Spanish lessons and then after classes, they have free salsa lessons. I sat in on a half dozen of the Spanish classes and watched the salsa lessons (at least that was the case in May of '06). GR and Prostoner can probably comment more extensively on the salsa lessons and their effectiveness, but it seems like it might be a good "twofer" that is right up your alley.

Ciaociao

In southern California several, if not all, junior colleges offer dance lessons of all types, including Salsa. It is very inexpensive.

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It's not the size of the wand that put the rabbit in the hat, it's the magic in it!!!

I´ve been saying it for years and now I´m finally going to do it. There is a fairly new studio in Jaco. For people who are on vacation or who really want to jump start their dancing, they have a program called boot camp that last I don´t know how many hours. The gringo that can dance salsa holds the keys to the kingdom...