Do you take one to one lessons? Where and are they expensive??

Great news. We'll see you in line one of this survey in the future

I see you are young and female. I wouldn't bother with private lessons but suggest group classes with a milonga (open dance) attached afterwards.

The women learn faster than men as in the milonga afterwards the intermediate and advanced men go out of their way to approach the hot young totty and teach them steps - while the beginner and improving males have to get extra private lessons to catch up. Just like lions in the Serengeti then.

But it is very important to practice one legged stable balance all the time for AT. AT is a lot about balance and control but little exercise. Salsa will give you exercise and is a lot less subtle in terms of the lead/follow.

Most female teachers can lead and follow AT. A private class would be £35 to £60 per hour in London and a group class will be £5 to £15 per hour. Groupon often has offers.

Hi Pashulty. I go to three places

£46 per hour
£55 for 45 mins but they do an hour often
£65 per hour but I get it discounted now and often more than an hour.

Thanks for your replies henrywilliams & Spin turn!!! And you flatterer henry
Once I get my dodgy back sorted I will get my dancing shoes on....

I spotted a special offer for salsa and bachata classes in Groupon [no connection with or knowledge of the teachers]

http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/londo...ltd-1-29874356

Was given dance lessons as a present a few years back. Initially danced with my wife now solely with a partner.

Waltz and quickstep only and to a reasonable standard even if I do say so myself. That might be partly the reason for me dismissing any waltz at this stage of the series. It's such a simple dance and is like a week off when you've had the best part of three months of training by a professional!!

I'd love to be able to dance with a partner but OH is completely not interested and would never come with me.

How easy would it be to join a class alone? I imagine there would be more women than men at most classes? Do some women end up dancing the mens role?

I've not been brave enough to try as I am always scared of the scene being a bit like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clOdyzP9fcw

I can't speak for "ballroom" classes but there are just a few couples at Tango and Salsa classes - and those that don't switch (not swing AFAIK look quite awkward just dancing with each other and not joining in with switching partners with everybody else.

And often there are more women at classes but not always. Just two weeks I found a class with seven men and just one woman. But women progress through the stages faster than men.

And yes women sometimes dance the men's roles (and vice versa). I can just about handle "practice embrace" with a bloke but I'm not going any closer than that. But I've seen female strangers quite happy going breast to breast and cheek-to-cheek in AT.

Oh don't bother with AT if you (or indeed OH if you tell him) can't handle your breast-to-chest and cheek-to-cheek contact with strangers. Salsa has less contact - but Bachata has just as much contact but lower body rather than mainly upper-body contact in AT.

Of course ballroom is a lot more distant than AT or salsa.

I've partner danced at least weekly for ten years and my husband has never, ever come with me.

He goes to the cinema without me every Wednesday.

It works for us