At the end of the bonus dance class run by AMU at the Centre Sportif Universitaire, I tried asking the teacher whether she ran any other classes for non-beginners – to which her answer was no. However, I realised that the couple who demonstrate the routines to the class would be training somewhere, so I went to ask them, since they obviously compete at a high standard. The woman in the couple sent me a few Internet links to two schools in Marseille and one just outside Aix. I then sent out emails to all of them detailing my current level and asking which class at their school would be most suitable.
One school in Marseille replied – their most suitable class was 5-6pm on Wednesdays which I wouldn’t be able to get to in time after my lectures on that day. The Virevolte dance school in Aix les Milles also responded to me and advised I come to their class on Wednesday evening for a taster. As I didn’t want to have to trek all the way to Marseille in a hurry right after classes each week, I opted to try out the Virevolte classes.
Wednesday class
Although I had thought Marseille would be a long journey, I didn’t quite anticipate how much effort it takes to get to anywhere outside of Aix. I went to the bus station where I managed to find out which buses went in the direction, and hopped on the one I could find. After getting off I had a twenty minute walk on a road with no pavement or pedestrian zone in complete darkness, which put me off a little. (Another girl and I got a lift back to Aix from one of the women in the class afterwards.)
Once arrived, though, the other people there were very friendly and pulled me up from my seat (I arrived early of course) to dance the bachata at the end of beginners. This class was called Danses Sportives Intermediaires, and began with a fun jive routine with open choreography steps that I enjoyed learning. Unsurprisingly as well as unfortunately, there were almost twice as many followers (all female) as leaders (all male). Same-sex dancing and female leading has not become a trend in Europe, it seems, in spite of the fact that there are almost inevitably more women than men wanting to dance and looking for a partner. Everyone swapped partners fairly regularly, but it did mean you spent nearly half of it not dancing as it’s difficult to get enough momentum to spin without a partner giving resistance.
The teacher then moved onto teaching a basic rumba routine, which felt like most people had never encountered before. I used this as an opportunity to practice my technique, especially for alemina spins. The last part of the lesson was spent on basic natural turns in waltz which I back-led (of course).
Overall it felt like the level of the class was still too easy and not quite right for me.
Thursday class
The teacher then invited me to try the class the next day which was Danses Latines Sportives for all levels. I had a nightmare getting to this class. Originally with the girl whom I’d shared a lift the previous night, she said she knew a more efficient bus to get to the dance school. I accordingly followed her instructions and met her at the bus stop, hopping on the one she said we should get. However, the bus driver wouldn’t let me on because I had to buy my ticket from the machine at the bus stop (just outside the bus), meaning she stayed on and I got off. I was confused because the previous night I had bought a ticket on the bus itself, but different ones must have different rules. While I was anxiously trying to make the ticket machine work, the number 4 bus (which we actually should have taken) came by the bus stop, but I didn’t quite manage to get my ticket from the machine in time to get it. Cue half hour wait in floods of tears.
The ligne 4 bus eventually passed again, late, which I got on and asked the bus driver to stop at the name of the stop I’d been told as I’d never been that route before. He kindly consented, and I made it to the lesson only 13 minutes late. In this class we learned a team dance routine for cha cha and jive, which wasn’t quite what I had been expecting.
Getting back took even longer than getting there as the last ligne 4 bus left before the end of the class that evening, so we walked half an hour to another bus stop where we managed to catch the last bus from there back to Aix.
Saturday
Out of the blue I had a message from the president of AUC asking if I was coming to training later today, as she’d found a leader wanting a tryout. I opted to go, and really enjoyed the tryout. By the end of the session we’d decided to train together as partners in ballroom, despite being in very different age groups, and do a competition some time next calendar year. The coach of AUC, Eric, offered us a discount on private lessons owing to my student status, which means that they’re the same price as getting a private lesson with Kevin or Melissa back home!
So after a week of frantic messages, travelling, and dancing, I’m back with the original dance group – this time with a partner!
A plus,
Zoe x
An Aixpat-en-Provence 