There are quite a number of salsa schools in Antigua but I would recommend La Salsa Dance Co. above all the others. The director of the school is Carlos Miranda, who is also an exceptional teacher, and if he is not available there are also other equally good teachers such as Andrés and Martin. There are usually two others: Julio and Selvin, but they are reportedly abroad in Europe at the moment. If you’d prefer a female teacher, there is just one at this school: Marisol, who is Carlos’ dance partner at salsa shows, competitions and the like.

The school has plenty of students, so if you’re more comfortable in group classes, there are those. However, if you only have limited time in Antigua and would like a crash course you can sign up for private lessons with any of the teachers for Q75 per class, with a discounted rate if you sign up more than a certain number. A lot of the time other students will be having their private classes at the same time as you, so most times it’s a nice unintimidating atmosphere with several pairs dancing simultaneously.

If you want to try a class before committing to anything, there are free group classes from 5 to 6 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays. Sometimes they are packed however, due to Spanish school students who come to shake their booty for the first time. But drop in anyway for a trial class.

There are also weekly group classes (if at least three people show up) for other Latin rhythms such as Bachata and Merengue. Otherwise, if no one shows up and you want to do it anyway you’ll have to pay the equivalent of a private class, i.e. Q75. For two people you’d probably have to split that amount by half.

Visit the school’s website (www.lasalsadancegt.com) for more details on class schedules and rates. Or if you’re already in Antigua, drop in and ask. There’s almost always somebody there.

After you’ve learnt some new moves and want to test them out in clubs, Antigua has a healthy salsa nightscene, the best night being Tuesdays at Sin Ventura (the pounding disco right next to Monoloco) where most the salsa teachers of Antigua show up.

Also, if you’re taking lessons at La Salsa Dance (the studio is housed in the lounge of a hotel), make sure you try lunch or dinner at the Korean restaurant called Veronica House named after its pleasant owner (tell them Emily sent you!) opposite the school’s studio. Both the school and the restaurant are contained in a small commercial centre called Centro Commercial Canoa (turn right out from Bagel Barn and it’s a few shoplots down the same street), which also houses a Spanish School.