Let's see the expenses: Two private classes at $100.00 a week for about 40-45 weeks, (here we get a huge discount because we buy so many), $4,500.00 a year.
Entry to clubs, coat check and drinks two or three times a week: $120.00 a week but not including the weeks we are at a salsa congress somewhere. Already the bar tab is less hefty, since we don’t drink alcohol when we dance. (it kind of defeats the purpose). Since the best clubs are downtown, we can go by underground so there are never any parking fees to be paid.
Dance shoes, two pairs a year: $380.00/year (I do get a good deal, but the store owner knows me by name by now).
Congress passes (The choice is almost embarrassing: New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Puerto Rico, Acapulco, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec), we do four or five a year so on average $2,750.00 We do not include the travel expenses because we would have taken holidays anyways and salsa congresses are usually on long weekends.
So it all comes to a bit more than $13,030.00 a year. That looks like a lot of money but let's also look at the savings:
We do not spend money on any other kind of entertainment like we used to, such as going out to bars, concerts, pool halls, bowling or golfing. Movies, theater or comedy shows are down to about 3 or 4 a year. Average savings: $5,000.00 a year.
My husband saves over $1,300.00 a year since he quit smoking so he could dance more often with me.
We save $1,080.00 a year by cancelling our health club memberships because we are always dancing anyways.
My shopping habits are now geared towards dancing: I will not by a top, skirt or dress unless I can wear it to dance. Savings: even.
Vacations are now scheduled around salsa congresses, most of which offer hotel rooms at a discount offered by the promoter. Approximate savings: $1,300.00 a year.
So, total savings: $8,350.00 a year.
So, all in all, salsa cost us (two people) about $4,680.00 a year or about $6.41 per person per day. That is about the price of a medium mochaccino at the local coffee shop.
Yet, considering the amazing learning experiences, the beautiful shows at the congresses, the weekly stress relief, the sense of accomplishment, the feeling of belonging to such a special community, the friends we have made, the places we have seen, the privilege of being taught by one of the best teachers, the energizing physical activity, the sweetest romantic moments I have experienced and shared with my husband over the past three years, and the permanent smile we both carry in our everyday lives, I can only come to one conclusion:
I am not paying nearly enough.
I have been taking Salsa, Bachata and Merengue classes with my husband under the guidance of our teacher Francisco for three years now and recently a friend from work asked me if I regret spending so much money on Latin dancing.