Flava, La Rueda, Siam at Siam, Fogo Vivo. These are salsa bars in Bangkok which I’ve never thought in my lifetime I would catch myself inside of, were it not for friends who have made these places their new church. There is never a visit to this city without salsa dancing. And I, being one of the gracious hosts of Filipinos living in Thailand who wouldn’t want to miss a chance to entertain visiting buddies, simply find myself hopping along to these places and then wondering why I went.
It wasn’t really my thing and I end up just sitting around and watching the whirl of dancers.
I love dancing. Not for anything professional, but I think I have enough passion to pull it off nicely, to enjoy the music moving my body. But this- salsa- poses a problem to my enjoyment of it. I can’t help feeling …“not independent”, “not free” to do my thing. Rules of “moving the right way”, “steps”, “following the lead” felt too controlling and macho for my taste, and so while friends gladly let themselves be led by whoever, I just drink and happily watch over the bags, in short- wallflowering. One time I was advised people in salsa bars generally ask anyone they fancy to the dance floor, and that it would be impolite to refuse, even if one could only manage simple steps (and there were guys who nicely danced like this with first timers among us). This made me tense and I've since learned not to accidentaly make eye contact with anyone outside our table.
But I enjoy seeing my friends especially with their Latino partners. They met a crowd of salsa goers who provide them a regular schedule of salsa nights in Bangkok. I just need to hint a bit that just because I go often enough, it doesn’t mean I’m looking f
or a Latino myself. Not my type. No inclination whatsoever….
Hm, now I wonder whether I’d ever get the chance to go to a regular bar again, like I used to do with single colleagues in my former office, and dance an ordinary dance, without the need for blowy skirts or fancy dresses, without the need for a lead.
It wasn’t really my thing and I end up just sitting around and watching the whirl of dancers.
I love dancing. Not for anything professional, but I think I have enough passion to pull it off nicely, to enjoy the music moving my body. But this- salsa- poses a problem to my enjoyment of it. I can’t help feeling …“not independent”, “not free” to do my thing. Rules of “moving the right way”, “steps”, “following the lead” felt too controlling and macho for my taste, and so while friends gladly let themselves be led by whoever, I just drink and happily watch over the bags, in short- wallflowering. One time I was advised people in salsa bars generally ask anyone they fancy to the dance floor, and that it would be impolite to refuse, even if one could only manage simple steps (and there were guys who nicely danced like this with first timers among us). This made me tense and I've since learned not to accidentaly make eye contact with anyone outside our table.
But I enjoy seeing my friends especially with their Latino partners. They met a crowd of salsa goers who provide them a regular schedule of salsa nights in Bangkok. I just need to hint a bit that just because I go often enough, it doesn’t mean I’m looking f
or a Latino myself. Not my type. No inclination whatsoever….Hm, now I wonder whether I’d ever get the chance to go to a regular bar again, like I used to do with single colleagues in my former office, and dance an ordinary dance, without the need for blowy skirts or fancy dresses, without the need for a lead.
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