Review: Mezcla de la Londres at the Centre at St Paul's, Friday March 28.

 

Salsa music and dance may have been around for decades in Cuba, Puerto Rico and New York's Latin neighbourhoods but in recent years it has invaded Britain.

While there were once one or two hard to find salsa classes taking place in the city, there are now dedicated nights, clubs and live gigs taking place almost every evening somewhere in Cambridge.

The Menelik Music nights at the St Paul's Centre on Hills Road, run by local promoter Theodore Menelik who aims to plough the profits into a project to build a school in Kinshasa, are proving to be the most popular hang out for Latin and African music fans.

The evening on Friday started with salsa lessons for beginners and advanced dancers where instructors taught us some moves in preparation for the band's arrival on stage. Despite the help of a friendly instructor - who advised me to admire my partner while I danced rather than watch my feet - I was still treading on her toes and moving my feet in every direction but the right one when the lesson ended.

After their lesson the hungry dancers were treated to a spread of delicious Spanish food and rushed to heap spicy beans, meat balls, salad and rice onto their plates.

As the band took the stage the dancefloor was flooded with eager dancers from the beginners with two left feet - that's me - to some dazzlingly talented couples whose bodies soon began disappear into a blur of spins, flourish and hips swivels as the music took over.

Mezcla de la Londres served up a high energy display of feisty Latin jazz tunes - including one or two well known favourites from the Buena Vista Social Club - and very soon even my unruly feet were beginning to find the beat.

It's often daunting to step onto a dance floor alongside people who have been dancing for years but the warm and welcoming atmosphere, excellent music and tasty cuisine washed down with a few drinks meant the night flew by.

Now where did I put those blister plasters?

For details of future Menelik Music nights visit www.menelikmusic.com