CHAT ROOM

I am ready and expecting to be corrected on this but (takes a deep breath) as suggestion might be...

I think Club Cubana used to do a Pontin's residential weekend for beginners in the summer months. I have never been so I can't comment on its quality or efficiacy for getting a newbie started but I am sure someone else will and will comment before the day is out.

However I would have thought you would derive some benefits over and above trying to learn from DVD. I would imagine it would be a relatively intense learning experience (again I can't say if it will be a good or beneficial one)and you would at least experience dancing with a number of different people, the social element and learn the idea of lead and follow.

I feel that this is an important aspect you can't get learning at home. I am wondering if a couple learning from a DVD alone, would without realising, fall into dancing a sort of set routine of their own devising - like a sort of salsa sequence dance. If so the first social you do manage, where the partner doesn't know what comes next in the routine, you both get to might prove a bit of a shock.

Also I have a nasty feeling the Club Cubana beginners weekenders are in Pakefield which is a nightmare to get to from anywhere and a very long haul from Bristol indeed. But I have been once not to a beginners event and I felt it was the nicest of all the Pontins camp (not a high benchmark here I grant you. :))

But perhaps some sort of weekender may be useful. Perhaps someone knows of one they can suggest.