7 reasons why you need to start salsa dancing today!

Are you looking for a fun, sexy new hobby that might just transform your life? Then you may want to consider salsa dancing.

Salsa dancing is a popular form of social dance that originated in South America and New York, and has grown to be one of the most popular dance forms in the world. Maybe you've watched people dancing salsa on popular shows like So You Think You Can Danceand Dancing With The Stars, or seen people dancing at the many salsa festivals that are held throughout the Bay Area. If you've ever thought it would be fun to learn how to dance like that, then I encourage you to start learning how to salsa today.

Here are 10 reasons that you should make salsa a part of your life:

1) Salsa is good for your health

Salsa dancing is a great way to get into shape. Whether you take salsa lessons, join a team, or go out dancing several times a week, salsa is a full-body aerobic workout that works all your core muscle groups such as your abs, hips, and legs. Salsa dancing is a fun way to burn calories and tone your muscles, and it's a lot more fun than running on a treadmill at a smelly gym!

2) Salsa is a great way to meet people

Salsa, unlike many other dance forms like hip hop or ballet, is first and foremost a social activity. Whenever you go out to a salsa club, you will be dancing with dozens of members of the opposite sex, and getting to meet a lot of new people. Whether you're looking for a date or just want to make a lot of great friends, salsa is a great way to break your daily routine and meet lots of new people. Trust me, it beats grinding people in a noisy club or getting drunk at the bar.

3) Salsa makes you feel sexy

If you've ever seen salsa dancing before, you know that salsa is a very sexy and sensual dance. By learning how to dance salsa, you will learn how to better express your sensual side. If you're like me and work in an office all day or have a regular day job, you probably don't have many opportunities to really express yourself in your day-to-day life. Salsa provides you with a fun and safe outlet for exploring your sensuality and creative side.

4) Salsa builds confidence

One of the common insecurities that many people have is that they don't know how to dance. Fortunately, taking a few salsa lessons will help get rid of that insecurity in no time! In addition to helping you be a better dancer, salsa also helps you build confidence in meeting new people and interacting with others of the opposite sex, as you'll be doing a lot of both in any given night of salsa. Salsa also provides opportunities for performing on stage, and there are many different salsa teams in the Bay Area that perform around the country and the world. There is no bigger confidence booster than getting on stage before hundreds of people and dancing your heart out.

5) Salsa is international

Like I mentioned before, salsa is one of the most popular forms of dancing in the world. If you like traveling, then you will LOVE salsa dancing. Whether you like exploring the Americas, or you enjoy visiting Europe or Asia, in whatever city you find yourself in, you will likely find a salsa club. Salsa dancing provides you an instant connection with people in cities around the world, even if you don't speak their language. Salsa is like its own universal language and by learning it you will be able to enjoy connecting with people from all over the world.

6) Salsa is diverse

One of the misconceptions about salsa dancing is that it's only for Mexicans and Latinos. However, while salsa does have Latin American origins, the salsa community, especially here in the Bay Area, is incredibly diverse. In a typical night you can expect to dance with peoples of many nationalities, from all walks of life, from tech entrepreneurs to restaurant workers and homemakers.

The word salsa means "mixture", and like its namesake, salsa brings together people of all stripes for mutual enjoyment and pleasure. If you're looking for a fun and diverse community to be a part of, you can't go wrong with salsa.

7) Salsa is HUGE in the Bay Area

If you live in the Bay Area and you aren't taking advantage of salsa dancing, then you are really missing out. Next to New York and Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most active salsa spots in the country, and indeed the world! On any given night, there are dozens of salsa events going on that you can be a part of. Many of the world's top salsa instructors also live in the Bay Area, so you have the opportunity to learn from some of the best dancers in the world, right in your own backyard!

Those are just 7 of the many reason why you should start salsa dancing today. Salsa is really just an incredible dance and community that will transform your life if you just give it a chance. Feel free to post any questions about salsa you might have in the comments, and save a dance for me on the dance floor!

How a Baby Tequila is Made

Oh, tequila. For many drinkers, the liquor’s name conjures up memories of blurry nights and painful mornings. But to lump all tequilas in with the cheap stuff is to ignore half a millennia of drinking history and some really tasty liquor.

AGAVE YOU MY LIQUOR

Under Mexican law, tequila must be made by a Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT)-certified location in one of five Mexican states. Most of the 140 odd distilleries that meet these requirements are located in Jalisco.

The spirit must be made from blue Weber agave, and it must be distilled from at least 51 percent agave. This requirement results in two different labels for tequila: mixto and 100 percent agave. Instead of distilling only from agave, mixto tequila is made with agave mixed with sugar from other sources.

Growing agave plants takes a good deal of patience. Despite modern breakthroughs in farming, most agaves are still farmed, tended and harvested by hand. Given that an agave plant traditionally takes 8-12 years to fully grow and mature, it’s not surprising that some tequila makers might choose to add other sugars.

Agave plants are also becoming more difficult to farm. Over the past 15-20 years, says Jose Valdez, Master Distiller for Tequila Partida, “[growing has taken] shorter times—about 6-8 years—due to global climate change, domestication, use of pesticides, [and] abuse of the land and soil, just to name some of the important causes.” This condensed time can cause plants to grow faster while not taking up as many nutrients from the soil. Resulting plants may not have as high of a sugar or acid content, making them less suitable for tequila making.

ROASTING TIME

After the mature agave plants are harvested, the sharp outer leaves are cut off. The heart, or piña, is then roasted at a low temperature to preserve enzymes and break down complex proteins and starches into fermentable sugars.

The plants are then milled with a large stone mill to separate the ropy pulp from the sweet juice called the mosto. The pulp, or bagazo, is often reused as animal feed, compost material, or fuel, but some producers will add some of the bagazo into the fermentation tanks to give the tequila a stronger agave flavor.

The mosto is then put into a fermentation tank with yeast and allowed to ferment. As the yeast eat the sugar, it is broken down into carbon dioxide and ethylic alcohol, says Valdez. The result from this step is a low alcohol fluid that can be distilled.

STILLED SPIRITS

At its most simple, distillation is the process of purifying or separating liquids using heat. Alcohol and water boil at approximately 173°F and 212°F, respectively. As the mosto is heated, more alcohol than water will evaporate, and the resulting vapor is collected as it condenses in an externally cooled pipe.

Most tequilas are distilled twice. It can be distilled more times, but becomes much more neutral and can lose its flavor and personality, says Valdez. Under Mexican law, producers can add artificial flavoring or coloring to make the tequila more consistent.

AGE AND BEAUTY

If you’ve been to your local liquor store, chances are that you’ve seen many different types of tequila that vary substantially in color and price. The most common are blanco (white), plata (silver), joven (young), oro (gold), reposado (rested), añejo (old), or extra-añejo (extra old). Blanco tequila is aged for no more than 60 days, and is often not aged at all. Oro tequilas are usually un-aged as well, but are often artificially colored mixtos. Reposado tequilas are aged for at least 2 months in wood, while añejo tequilas must age for at least a year. For a tequila to be extra-añejo, it must be aged for at least 3 years; this is the newest designation.

HIT THE LAB

With National Margarita Day coming up on 2/22, it’s the perfect time to cozy up with a margarita. Like many other cocktails, this drink’s history is murky at best. It first shows up in the 1940s, but didn’t really become popular until the '70s.

If you’re not sure about whether or not to use salt with your beverage, check out its taste benefits. Or just experiment with it—it’s all about what tastes best to you.

Margarita

2 oz tequila
1/2 -1 oz Cointreau, triple sec, or dry curacao (to taste)
3/4-1 oz lime juice (to taste)
1/2 – 1/4 oz simple syrup (also to taste)
Lime wedge, for garnish

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds or until chilled through. Strain into a chilled glass with a salted rim (if you please).