Salsa Mania

Who would've thought that I would find more salsa in Ghana than I ever did in the United States, Guatemala, and Mexico combined? There is a vibrant salsa culture here in Accra, with some of the most incredible salsa dancers I have ever seen.

Every Wednesday night (if we're all around), the girls and I will go out to Coconut Grove Hotel, a four-star Ghanaian hideaway which sports a full-out salsa party once a week. It's always very jam-packed, with people dancing around the pool and spectators forming a thick ring around the dancers within. The music is loud, and it is certain that within minutes a guy will come to sweep you off the dance floor if you stand at the edge and tap your toes.

The most unexpected things they do here are the line dances. Accra's salsa community is fairly small, so all the pros have been dancing together for what I can only imagine to be years. I'm not sure how this came about, but there are a series of line dances that they all seem to know, and we all dance them at random intervals between the salsa songs. Usually the first row of people know it well and perform the routine beautifully. Then as you move farther down the rows, the expertise begins to fade and eventually it becomes a jumbled, bumper car fest of clueless dancers. The most wonderful thing is that from the pros to the car wrecks, everyone is having a blast and simply enjoying the experience of dancing together.

The dances themselves are very intriguing - a mix of salsa steps, African dance, the electric slide, and the macarena.

Then every Friday there are lessons where one can go for a less hectic scene. Most people there know how to dance very well, and I have danced better salsa there than ever before. I feel more confident keeping in rhythm, turning, and dancing in heels!

I am truly loving this nightlife. I absolutely love to dance.