Salsa is not just the dance at Rec Sports!

Salsa doesn't just refer to the sauce at VCU Recreational Sports.

Salsa is an informal style of dance involving a partner which has roots in the Caribbean. It involves numerous styles of dancing originating from a mixture of Mambo, Danzon, Guaguanco, Cuban Son and other typical Cuban dance forms.

Chenae Nelson, a 19-year-old exercise science major and junior at VCU, named using the different moves on the dance floor instead of practicing them individually as her favorite part of the class.

“It felt cool to actually dance with a partner … when the mommies and poppies dance together,” Chenae said.

Chenae was drawn to the class by the idea of learning a new dance. Chenae said she had never tried salsa dancing before, but afterwards related that was an opportunity to learn something that you may not have the opportunity to otherwise..

“[You] broaden your knowledge of dance and it’s exercise too,” Chenae said.

For Carlan Burke, a 20-year-old exercise science major and also a junior at VCU, it was his first time participating in the salsa group exercise class, but he said he welcomed the chance to try something new.

“I was learning something outside of my usual box,” Carlan said.

Carlan related the hardest part for him was getting into the groove of the dance steps due to his lack of experience, but that for those looking for something outside of the norm it’s a great choice.

“Prepare to learn something different,” Carlan said.

Recreational Sports offers salsa group exercise classes Sundays from 8:00pm to 9:00pm, and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00pm to 10:00pm during Session II, which runs until December 5th. All classes are free to enrolled VCU students and Recreational Sports members.

You can view the schedule for this session’s other group exercise classes by clicking here.