Kathmandu:

If you’ve watched Vanessa Williams swaying her hips in Dance with me or JLo looking ravishingly sexy in Shall we dance, you’ve also probably wished “If only I could also dance like her...”

This wish of yours may not remain an impossible dream as this Latino dance ‘Salsa’ has also made its way to the Himalayas. When you think of Salsa, the first think that comes to your mind is hot and spicy — and just like the popular Latin sauce, Salsa dance too is very zesty.

And in the last few years Salsa has become the in-thing. But is Salsa just a lifestyle statement, or is it something more?

Sayep AB Malla, assistant programme coordinator at Management Support Services Pvt Ltd, first saw the advertisement in a newspaper about the Salsa classes being given by one of the most well known instructors Diego Sienz. He knew about Tango, Waltz and Cha-cha-cha (thanks to James Bond), but Salsa was something very alien and exotic.

“When I first went for the classes, he thought I had two left feet. I did not know anything about dancing,” says Malla.

But that is what the charm of Salsa is all about — it is about discovering a new world of possibilities.

“Within one month and after taking two classes per week, I completed learning easy steps and by that time Diego himself asked me to continue with the classes,” he says.

As for Binayek Shrestha, instructor at Salsa dance academy, Bhatbhateni, the Salsa mania started with the movie Dance with me.

“As soon as I saw the movie it struck me that this is what I want to do. I was never interested in dance but I decided to learn it. I even went to Spain for some classes,” he says.

Katia Verreault, who teaches at the academy along with Binayek says, “Dancing has always been a passion for me. Even though I am a trained Kathak dancer, I found it a bit harsh. I wanted dance that had a social aspect and started learning Salsa. And now I am addicted to it.”

But Salsa is not just limited to steps and moves alone. It is also very good for your body and mind say these veterans.

“Salsa helps you be comfortable with your body. It increases social bonding as you need to have a partner for the dance. It is also superb as the exercise works on your cardio vascular and burns calories,” says Katia.

Talking about the mental relaxation it gives Binayek says, “It is very relaxing after a long day to dance and listen to peppy music. It is a great way to de-stress.”

Malla who had a first hand experience of rejuvenation with salsa says, “It was not only good for my mind and body, but also for my soul. When I first started dancing, I was going through a very bad phase in life, and dancing helped me to relax and enjoy life. Whenever I danced, my mind used to be free from any tension.”

The frequent Salsa parties saw other people getting hooked to this dance form.

“First we gave classes at the Latin Quarters, Baber Mahal Revisited, but when they decided to shift to Durbar Marg, we opened our own academy,” says Katia.

Today Salsa is not just passion for both, but also their juice of life. It has become a reason that drives their life.

Malla, on the other hand, stopped dancing as frequently as he used to do due to some personal problems.

“In Nepal, people usually have that concept that you cannot have fun once you reach a certain age. And all that they know of Salsa is that it is a close dance between a guy and a girl. They just don’t think beyond that. What they don’t know are the unspoken rules that state that we don’t get too close to any of our partners. It is a sensual but dignified dance,” he says.

Nowadays he just dances with his wife at his own place or sometimes at weddings. Katia and Binayek too are aware about the negative perspective that people have about Salsa and stress that there is no hanky-panky while dancing.

All they want people to do is enjoy the dance.