Sue's Sports Starter by Sue_Thearle

Dah dah dah dah dah dah daaaahhh dah dah dah dah dah..... Oh yes my friends, I have been shaking my little tush on the dance floor and I think Hollins needs to be afraid, very afraid..... That’s because I have now completed a Strictly Fit Class courtesy of Fitness First, who gave me the chance to humiliate not just myself, but my husband Scott too. So how could I possibly refuse???

I must confess I was mighty curious to have a go at this. Dancing is definitely the hot TV topic right now. There’s Strictly natch, So You Think You Can Dance, Davina’s Got To Dance and Dancing On Wheels. Honestly when you’ve finished watching all the shows, how on earth are you supposed to find the energy to actually do any dancing? But somehow I found a way and I’m glad I did, because after having a go at Salsa on Monday night, I am certain that after several bottles of Sol, I would be bold enough to march onto a dance floor in any Tapas bar and throw a few shapes.

Now Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire we ain't, but we owe our new-found confidence to the lovely Michelle, who was taking the class. There were over 20 of us packed into the dance studio and my husband’s worst fears weren’t quite confirmed, because there was actually one other bloke there. He was so thrilled to see Scott, I thought he might actually weep tears of joy. The age range stretched from mid 20’s to 60 plus and because there were lots of ladies, we all had to have a go at the men’s and women’s salsa steps. The class was an hour long and does start off with a blast of the Strictly theme, before a proper warm-up to get your little legs and feet going. Then we learned the basic steps slowly on our own, before gradually working up to dancing with partners and then proper salsa dancing.

I have to say when we did it for the first time at the right Latin speed, it did make me smile a lot. There is something joyous about being able to dance, although I confess that is not a feeling I have ever previously had! But even though I trod on Scott’s foot once, quite heavily I might add, and even though there were occasions when he looked like a broken man, I think he genuinely enjoyed it too. In fact everyone seemed to be having a ball. Some sections were easier to master than others. I liked the cucaracha, which is a basic side step, and I also enjoyed the open section too. But it was hard learning to co-ordinate with your partners and I did find myself actually bickering with the only other man there, because we couldn’t decide who should have gone left first.

But the music and movement was great fun and I can see how people want to learn to dance like this. It also gave me a new level of respect for our Chris Hollins, because learning all of the steps for a new dance each week to an elite level, must have been so hard. Scott got to dance with all the ladies which naturally perked him up no end and when we left his only comment about the class was to mutter, “at least it wasn’t as bad as the spinning.”

And oh that joyous difference between men and women was summed up by this exchange in the car on the way home. “So,” I enquired gently. “How did you feel about dancing in front of the wall to ceiling mirrors?”

Husband: “Wasn’t really that bothered. I saw myself a couple of times and just thought I looked like a streaky lank of ****. What about you?”

Me: “Oh I saw myself a couple of times too. I thought I looked like a fat potato.....”