One of the questions I get asked most regularly when someone is going to a salsa club for the first time is “What do I wear?”…and funnily enough it is the men who are just as concerned as the women in getting it right! It’s perfectly natural question to ask as you want to feel like you fit in (the last thing anyone wants to do is to stick out like a sore thumb!) so here are my top tips on what to wear on your first visit to a club:

  1. Be comfortable – First and most important rule. You need to be comfortable, you want to feel like yourself and wear something that is easy to move in.
  2. Dress for the occasion – What to wear is often based on what sort of event you’re going to. If you’re going to a regular class which happens every week then most women will wear jeans, trousers or a fairly casual skirt and a top and the men will wear jeans or trousers and a shirt or t-shirt – nothing too flashy or over dressed, this is saved for special occasions! If it’s a party night you might want to smarten up a bit more, but if it’s your first time I’d err on being under dressed rather than over dressed. Special occasions women will wear nice spangly tops or dresses and guys wear trousers with shirt.
  3. You don’t want to get too hot – Women, make sure you have layers on, so that if you get warm you can take something off. I normally have a sleeveless top with a small cardi or light jacket over the top as normally I’m warm within the first 10 minutes or so! Men, if you know you’re likely to get warm have a spare T-shirt or shirt in your bag in case you get a little hot and bothered.
  4. Beware the spin test! – Ladies if you wear a skirt make sure that if you spin round quickly it’s not going to ride up and flash anything you don’t want being seen! If in doubt go for trousers.
  5. Shoes glorious shoes! – It’s a good idea for both men and women to opt for leather soled shoes as they won’t grip the floor when you turn. Women if you’re comfortable in it go for something with a small heel as this will help you stay on your toes. Definitely avoid trainers as they will stick to the floor and will hurt your knees and ankles. If you decide to take it up regularly ask you teacher to recommend somewhere to get some proper dance shoes as they will be more comfortable and easier to dance in.

If you’re in the Guildford area and fancy giving salsa a go – check out the Sunday Salsa in Guildford classes at the Keystone – they’re very friendly and a great place to test the water if you’re a first-timer!

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