Topaz Dancentre

I started going to Topaz when I was about 15 for Salsa classes. I was the youngest in the class, but I didn’t let that put me off. Whilst my mum stayed firmly in beginners I moved up to intermediate, and the fact that I no longer had to be the ‘man’ when learning the steps was a relief. However, I now found myself partnerless in a class full of middle aged couples.
Nevertheless, I always found someone to dance with, and if it hadn’t’ve been for Topaz I probably never would have had the courage to try dancing professionally. Jo, who taught the Salsa and Latin, is a tiny little slip of a woman with thick blonde hair, and so lovely you have to wonder if she takes prozac instead of vitamin pills. I did all my dance medals up to Gold Bar 1 and started branching out into Ballroom, although I never really took to it.
Topaz offers classes for all ages and abilities, and the maximum price is £5. I’m not sure if they still do it, but I remember our Salsa class went on ‘field trips’ to a Latino bar in Manchester, and we had a great time, even though I got drunk and tried to speak Spanish and ended up being thrown all over the dance floor by a Patrick Swayze type. Good fun!