Shimmy your way to fitness and fun

Every Tuesday night, in the Wolftrap Pub in Tullamore, in the back room, you can hear the sultry sounds of Latin music and see men and women spinning around the room. Salsa has taken over Ireland and become very popular in the past few years, while its music and Cuban rhythms are energetic and fill the place with life. It is a great way to exercise and meet people.'In salsa, the men dance in a very manly way. They are in charge of leading the dance. They can look macho in the way they move. They can have their own style. So finally, we have a dance that is not for girls. It is as enjoyable for the men as for the women,' said Vanessa, the dance teacher at the Wolftrap. Also salsa is a very cheap hobby. The class is only €10 and you can stay dancing after the class! 'When they come to salsa, most people don"t drink! Dancing and drinking don"t really work together because you move so much!' said Vanessa. 'What is so lovely is that dance does not feel like exercise because you are concentrating so hard on so many things - like learning the steps.'