Resolve to Get a Life: Week #5

Seize every day to get out and have more fun with Amanda, Onlineshoes.com’s Rehabilitated Recluse.

Until about a week ago, the only role ‘salsa’ ever played in my life was as a taco condiment. I had heard of the dance, yet never dreamed I would do it.

Since high school, I have been a wallflower. Insecure of my abnormal height and plagued by two left feet, I feared the dance floor and restricted myself to the sidelines, watching others whirl and twirl past, hoping that maybe someday, it would be me.

But last week, armed with my new Carpe Diem attitude, I attended my first dance class: Salsa 1 at the Century Ballroom. As explained in the description, it is perfect for the dancing impaired, aka me. No previous experience or coordination required!

Knowing that dance class would be a challenge for my uncoordinated body, I recruited my friend Dante to be my partner. The only downside was that I am two inches taller than him without shoes on. He will say that he is 5’10”, and in being a good friend I always humor his inaccurate claim. So, please let me rephrase… We are the same height. But even so, when you slap some heels on me, I become a 6’2” giant and he becomes a dwarf.

Walking into the ballroom, anxiety set in and I heard my inner awkward high school self pleading that I run out. With heels on, running was not an option. I was forced to fight through my insecurity.

The class started out slow and structured. First, we went over the basic steps alone. “Front, together. Back, together.” Followed by a slightly modified step, “Right, together. Left, together.” After a few minutes, even I had the hang of it. My confidence was building.

Then, it was time to practice in partners. At this point, I learned something horrifying: We would be alternating partners. This discovery instantly obliterated any comfort I had maintained in believing that Dante would be the only one who would have to deal with my laughable dancing skills. My confidence quickly dwindled.

So what do you get when you add two inexperienced dancers both trying to lead… a mess. Being bigger than 95% of the students, I instinctively took matters into my own hands, attempting to control our movements. The instructors did not like this and neither did the ‘leads’. As a stubborn woman the concept of ‘following’ is not an easy one for me to grasp, resulting in crushed toes and clumsy movement.

By the end of the hour, my frustration had reached its breaking point and so had my feet. If I was going to get better at this, I needed to do to things:

1. Accept my role as a ‘follow’
2. Get new shoes

When I think of salsa shoes, bright, strappy, four-inch heels come to mind. But when I think of my feet, I think of big, wide tennis shoes with lots of cushioning. I needed something sexy and sassy, yet practical and comfortable. It seemed more likely that I would win the lottery than find such fabled footwear. So you can imagine my surprise when I found them: the Berry Patent Sofft Olina.

They were perfect! The sensible heel gave height without risking my neck. They are closed-toe, which is essential for any beginner’s dance class. And, they are a bold-pink slingback, giving them the perfect amount of ‘sexy’ required for salsa. The clincher though, was that they came in a size 10 wide. Right after ordering them, I went to the local corner store and bought a lotto ticket.

A few days later, I strapped on my new shoes and bravely embarked on phase two of my salsa experience… spins. The word alone sent chills down my spine.

When I approached my first partner, I smelled fear pouring from every pore of his being. Apparently, he remembered me from the previous class. I got in my stance, shut my eyes, took a deep breath and reminded myself of my role, “You are a follow.”

When the music started something truly remarkable happened… we were dancing, really dancing!

No toes were crushed and there were no battles for control, only fluid steps and flawless spins. Once we finished all of the moves, I looked down at my partner and saw he was smiling—so was I.

I’m not certain as to what it is responsible for this dramatic improvement. Dante insists it is simply the fact that I was more relaxed. Although he is probably right, I can’t help to believe that perhaps the shoes are partly responsible. Who knows for sure, but I will not be attending class without them.