In August 2023, I arrived in Vienna. With a suitcase full of clothes and a whole lot of curiosity, I arrived in the big city. I didn't know a single soul. Although the anonymity that a big city offers is a significant part of what I enjoy about life here, I naturally wanted to make connections and meet new people. What options does one have for that? Right, in the digital age, quite a few. And as any young single woman would do, I immediately reactivated my Tinder. A few swipes later, I came across a profile of a guy who didn't have any cheesy pickup lines or wannabe-cool statements in his description but mentioned he danced salsa and Bachata and liked to listen to Reggaeton. The pictures were also appealing, so it was a right swipe. My thought: Let's see what happens, and if through him I just find out where to go dancing in Vienna, I'll be more than satisfied. You should know that even before Vienna, I enjoyed dancing. While my dance experience was mainly limited to classic ballroom dances, I was generally open to Bachata and salsa. But back to Tinder. We matched, and shortly after, we were in a Bachata class together. I was thrilled. Especially by the dance.

I was fascinated by the ease and joy that flooded the room; strangers came together here to take a few hours off from everyday life; hours that promise a lively and respectful togetherness. Even though you don't know each other, through dance you manage to build a connection, to engage with each other, and above all, to develop a respectful feeling for yourself. Yes, I was thrilled.

From then on, I went to the Bachata class once a week, and after a few weeks, I also dared to attend my first social. As exhilarating as the dance itself may have been for me, if the people I met weren't so warm and open, the overall experience would not have been nearly as exhilarating. In both the dance class and the various social events, I met wonderful personalities. What was special about these acquaintances was that from the beginning, we shared at least one thing in common: we loved to dance! And yet, quite different personalities gather in the Bachata community. From psychology students to PR agents, software engineers to AI specialists—the Bachata community is a colorful melting pot of stories and faces.

But this one commonality already says a lot. It means that you enjoy being around people, that you are passionate, appreciate consideration and attention—and, not to forget—that you are quite happy to stay out until midnight, especially on a Monday. It means you enjoy Latin music and have a sense of rhythm as well as aesthetics. It means you enjoy dancing! That's more information than you can glean from many dating profiles. So you can assume that with the people you meet within the community, you share a lot and have this one very specific starting point. For example, you can combine getting to know each other over a drink before the next social with your shared hobby. Socializing is even more fun that way!

When I say that I dance Bachata, the reactions are often skeptical. Bachata encounters many prejudices: too close, too flirty, too sexy. Like all prejudices, these do not come out of nowhere. Yes, Bachata can be very intimate and flirty, but it never overshadows the sexual. Bachata is a sensual dance where the body reflects the passion for the music, the movement, and the dance itself. This means that, as should be the case in any situation, there are boundaries that must be respected. Anyone who exploits the sensuality of the dance for inappropriate touches or comments has not understood the concept of the dance. It doesn't happen often that someone allows themselves inappropriate behavior on the dance floor, but it does happen from time to time. The support within the community becomes evident once again in such situations. Because negative experiences are shared (at least in my experience). If someone has behaved inappropriately, warnings are issued about them. And the organizers of the social events also always keep a watchful eye and an open ear for such concerns. This sense of solidarity runs through the community like a common thread and bonds people accordingly.

Now, 10 months have passed since I moved to Vienna, and most of my close friendships that I have built so far come from the Bachata scene. Like any kind of relationship, building a friendship requires work. Just because you see each other at weekly socials doesn't mean a friendship automatically forms. It takes the willingness to meet outside of that, to get to know and appreciate each other, and it takes time. Bachata dancing has given me the foundation to feel comfortable in Vienna in no time. The community is international and welcomes everyone. I could say that I only started dancing Bachata through a lucky match, but ultimately it was the people I met there who have kept me here. Sometimes it's exactly such coincidences that enrich you with the most beautiful encounters. For my part, I am incredibly grateful to be part of this community and to have found wonderful people there whom I can now welcome at my table.

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About Friendships, Tables, and the Bachata Community

Learning to dance Bachata, Zouk, Salsa or Kizomba is like gaining skills in a new language, except with two left legs and awkward bumping into people. But how you choose to learn can be as diverse as the steps themselves. According to my observations as a social butterfly in Vienna, there seem to be four types of dance students, each with its own set of quirks and benefits.

“Part of the family” aka “dedicated disciple”

Meet Susi. She has been with the same dance school for over a year now and absolutely loves it! This dancer is a creature of routine, hitting the same studio like clockwork. She's the one with the most impressive footwork, her movements smooth and confident. Susi keeps paying for monthly passes, religiously attending daily classes with her beloved instructors. Although “beloved” is not quite the word. She worships her instructors, seeing them as queens and kings of the dance scene and only goes to socials organized by her school - nowhere else! It would be disloyal to dance anywhere else. Being a part of the family means everything to her. That’s why she even started styling her hair and dressing like the instructors she admires. Actually she lost some of her old friends as all she wants to talk about is dancing.

Learn Progress: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Consistent practice and personalized feedback lead to super fast and impressive improvement.

Efficiency: ⭐️⭐️ - Focused learning with minimal distractions.

Costs: 💰💰💰 - Regular class fees in a professional but expensive school and potentially additional private lessons.

Time Invested: 🕰️🕰️🕰️ - Daily commitment to classes.

Opportunity to Make Friends: 👫 - Regular interaction with classmates and instructors fosters connections. They are a family. 😀

Compatibility with Work: 🏢 - Good, as the classes are in the evenings, after work. 

Compatibility with Family Duties: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦👎 - Requires finding childcare or coordinating schedules with family members. But since Susi is single and fabulous, free evenings are not a big deal. 

Max is a butterfly of the dance scene, flitting from one workshop to another, collecting knowledge and inspiration from various teachers. He knows everybody and can high-five DJs at any Latin party. This flexible “tonight here, tomorrow somewhere else” approach gives him a chance to meet pretty ladies, especially in trial and beginner classes.  He's the one with the most diverse skill set, able to switch seamlessly between Salsa, Bachata, and Zouk. The man is also the one boasting about his collection of “private dance meetings”. But his bank account might not be as happy as his… feet, and the dancing progress might be less linear than Susi’s. Still, Max wouldn't trade his eclectic experiences for the world.

Learn Progress: ⭐️⭐️ - Varied perspectives can be enriching, but consistency may be lacking.

Efficiency: ⭐️⭐️ - Requires travel and planning between workshops (since they happen to be in different parts of the city and often on the same nights).

Costs: 💰💰 - Varies depending on workshop fees, but generally from 5€ to 25€ a workshop.

Time Invested: 🕰️🕰️ - Varies depending on workshop schedules and travel time, but generally a lot of flexibility. 

Opportunity to Make Friends: 👫👫 - Opportunities to meet new people at each workshop. Especially beginners. The prettier the better ;)

Compatibility with Work: 🏢 - Moderate - Can be flexible depending on workshop schedules, but generally good, as only travels in Vienna are required.

Compatibility with Family Duties: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 - Good! Max is single and likes to keep it that way. Workshops across town during weekends or evenings? No problem!

Sophie is a single mom with low income. She’s also a self-sufficient soul, learning through online tutorials and practicing with her dance buddies at socials. She's the one with the most control over her learning pace and budget, often found in her cozy apartment, perfecting her moves with the help of YouTube and online communities. While she might miss out on the personalized feedback of a traditional studio, Sophie thrives on the flexibility and independence of her chosen path. She is free to go to socials spontaneously and tries to learn whenever she gets a chance.

Learn Progress: ⭐️⭐️ - Can be self-paced, but requires self-discipline and access to reliable resources.

Efficiency: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Flexible - Can be adjusted to personal schedules.

Costs: 💸 - Can be free or require minimal subscription fees.

Time Invested: 🕰️ - Flexible - Can be self-paced and adjusted to personal schedules.

Opportunity to Make Friends: 👫👫 - Requires active participation in online communities and social events.

Compatibility with Work: 🏢⭐️⭐️⭐️ - High - Can be self-paced and adjusted to work schedules.

Compatibility with Family Duties: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦⭐️⭐️⭐️ - High - Sophie works around her family commitments and tries to dance whenever her kid is with the other parent. 

Franz is a weekend warrior, dedicating his entire vacation (yep, 25 workdays a year) to intensive workshops and social parties at dance festivals in Spain, Greece, UK, Germany, Turkey or even North Africa (looking at you, Habana in Tunisia!). He's the one with the most immersive experiences and the most epic dance stories, often regaling his friends with tales of his latest festival adventures. He is proud of all the dance videos with world-famous Bachata and Salsa stars - Daniel & Desiree here, Ataca and La Alemana there.  But his progress is… not so great, as he tends to sleep and party more than learn. It’s punctuated by long stretches of "normal life," where he patiently waits for the next opportunity to immerse himself in the world of dance.

Learn Progress: ⭐️⭐️ - Intensive learning bursts, but gaps between festivals can hinder progress.

Efficiency: ⭐️ - Significant time commitment for limited learning periods.

Costs: 💰💰💰 - Festival passes, travel, and accommodation are SUPER expensive.

Time Invested: 🕰️🕰️🕰️ - High - Intensive learning during festival weekends, lots of time spend traveling. 

Opportunity to Make Friends: 👫👫👫 - Immersive environment encourages socializing and making international connections. Plus what happens in Italy stays in Italy, right?

Compatibility with Work: 🏢👎 - Requires taking time off work for festival weekends (as travel is mostly on Fridays and Mondays).

Compatibility with Family Duties: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦👎 - Requires taking time away from family for festival weekends.

So, which approach is the best? Sticking to one teacher/school, running to a different workshop every time, learning at home or traveling to festivals? I personally tend to mix and adjust, depending on the level of private and professional stress, but generally speaking, flexibility and cost efficiency are a big plus. Ultimately, the best approach depends on your individual goals, preferences, and lifestyle. So, put on your dancing shoes, choose your path, and get ready to sweat your way to Salsa, Bachata, Zouk, and Kizomba mastery!

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Four Methods of Learning Social Dancing

Salsa music originated in Cuba, evolving from Son Cubano in the 1930s. Over the decades, the genre gained traction throughout the Americas, especially in the United States, where many Cubans migrated following the Cuban Revolution. Due to geographical, cultural, and temporal differences, each region in the Americas developed its own distinctive flavor of Salsa music and dancing. The 1960s and 1970s are often considered the golden age of Salsa, as New York City popularized the genre worldwide.

In most cities around the world, you will encounter one of three primary styles:

Cuban Salsa, as the name suggests, originates from Cuba. The dance is performed in a circular fashion, with the leader and follower moving around each other. By the 1980s, a new music genre called Timba emerged, bringing corresponding changes to the dance. Timba incorporates influences from American R&B/Funk and Afro-Cuban folkloric music known as Rumba. The last one is not to be confused with the ballroom dance called Rhumba. Cuban Salsa is danced on the first beat (on 1) of a song and features a grounded yet energetic style with elaborate arm movements that can appear complex to beginners.

Rueda de Casino is a sub-style of Cuban Salsa where groups of pairs dance in a circle, performing figures announced by a "cantante" (caller), and switch partners throughout the song. This style originated in Cuban dance halls frequented by wealthier Cubans and tourists. It is popular in dance schools as a method to teach Cuban Salsa.

LA Style Salsa is danced in a linear fashion, often referred to, along with NY Style, as "crossbody lead" styles. This style emphasizes show performance, especially in the professional scene. It is danced on the first beat (on 1).

NY Style Salsa shares many elements with LA Style but differs in that the emphasis while dancing is on the second beat (on 2) rather than the first. This subtle difference gives NY Style a unique feel and timing.

While the aforementioned styles are the most common, other styles might be encountered depending on your location.

Originating from Colombia, this style emphasizes intricate footwork and is often performed to fast-paced music.

Also from Colombia, Salsa Choke focuses on footwork but is typically danced solo rather than with a partner.

Puerto Rican Salsa is less defined in its rules compared to other styles. It is usually danced in a linear fashion with simpler turns.

Often, the choice of style will depend on what is available in your city. Typically, one style will dominate the local community, although this can change over time. It's usually a smart choice to start with the predominant style, as it means there will be more socials and practice opportunities in your area. Regardless of whether you choose Cuban, LA, or NY Style Salsa, each offers a unique and exciting way to experience this vibrant dance form. Happy dancing!

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