On-base clubs serve spicy Latin salsa

Story and Photos by Reynaldo Cantù

It’s flashy, it’s brassy, an energetic exhibition of kinetic exuberance — it’s salsa! The word means sauce in Spanish, but in the dance world it is a sensual interplay of passion, full of twirls, fancy moves and spicy interpretations.

If the couch is starting to fit your bottom too comfortably, you know how every TV show will turn out and life seems a little bland, you could be ready for a taste of the hot rhythms and dynamic flair of salsa - New York style. It’s in your own back yard on camps Futenma and Foster.

It may seem odd that you can walk into a club on base and find yourself in the thick of a Latin tempo, but you can. Even if you don’t know anything about salsa, you can find yourself, in a few short weeks, moving like a professional dancer. You can wow spectators on the sidelines or your friends at the next gathering.

All you have to do is get off the couch and head to Erik Rodriguez’ classes. Show up by 8 p.m. on Thursday at Thirsty’s for walk-in basic instructions. You will get an hour and a half of enthusiastic exercise, learning the quick-quick-slow fundamental steps, variant of the classic mambo. From 9:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. you can practice what you just learned and prepare for Friday night.

On Friday nights from 8p.m. to 9 p.m., Erik and his wife Yukj offer a level-one course at the Globe and Anchor on Camp Foster. The moves get a little more elaborate and you’ll learn the tactile hints as well as how to do dance with grace. After that, the next hour expands the repertoire, moving up to where folks get into the really fiery grooves.

If you don’t have a significant other or a friend, don’t worry. The salsa atmosphere is social all the way. Erik makes certain everybody gets a stab at showing off their stuff by having people change partners often during the evening. In case you were wondering, these classes are offered for free.

If you get the salsa fever, Erik and Yuki offer private lessons for reasonable fees at different times during the week. At least half a dozen venues on Okinawa, mainly in Ginowan and Naha, offer a club ambience where you can party down until dawn.

Check out the scene at Erik’s Web site: www.mamboki.com