Instructor David Lin speaks to the students. Gargoyle photo by Anna Gooler (click to create a slideshow)

HAVE YOU EVER seen two perfectly coordinated people move quickly and gracefully around the North Attic?

Friday of Agora Week, David Lin, owner of The Regent Ballroom in Savoy, and one of his students, Ji Miao, displayed their amazing salsa dancing skills for those of us in Salsa Dance. I was mesmerized by the fast paced steps and the way the dancers knew exactly how the other was going to move. They were perfectly coordinated.

I have to admit, though, I wasn’t entirely enthusiastic about the class at first. I enjoy dancing, but sometimes it can be difficult to learn a structured form, and I would much rather be automatically amazing.

But, I enjoyed ballet classes when I was younger, and I've taken a few tango lessons here and there, so I went in with an open mind.

It turned out I loved salsa dancing. It was so much fun! It felt so great when I did a perfect turn, or my arms were moving the way they were supposed to.

On Tuesday, we began learning the basic step: forward on the left foot, step with the right foot, then bring the left foot back, then repeat in the back with the right foot first.

So far, it was easy for me, and I was already having fun.

Some people didn't quite get it, though. One of the leaders tried to simply step forward, feet together, then backward, feet together. I didn't want to tell him he was doing it wrong, but thankfully Lin straightened out his mistakes.

We also learned the cucaracha, which is a variation of the basic step in which you step to either side rather than forward or backward.

We also learned a couple of turns. To do a spot turn, you step to the right with the right foot, then bring the left foot around so you're facing backwards. Next, you step on the right foot again, then bring the left foot together with the right foot, turning to face forward again.

Seniors Chelsea Freeland and T.J. Bozada practice their moves. Gargoyle photo by Anna Gooler (click to create a slideshow)

The follower usually seems to do spot turns, but the leader can do hook turns. For a hook turn, you bring the right foot around behind the left, and use it as a pivot point to turn clockwise all the way around.

Next, we started dancing with partners. Lin demonstrated combinations for us to try, starting off easy with the basic step, then moving on to the cucaracha.

It's much more fun to do the cucaracha with a partner than alone, because you swivel around, switching the hands that you hold. The people in this video demonstrate the cucaracha about 30 seconds into it.

However, I was surprised when suddenly Lin said, "OK, now rotate partners."

I knew most of the people in the class, but I know it could be awkward to dance with someone I had never talked to. When salsa dancing, the partners have to hold hands, and it's also difficult to know where to look. Should I look at my partner's face? At his feet?

Of course, everyone was nice and mature about it. At a school with 300 students, I'm comfortable with a range of people from different classes. Plus, by the end of the four days, I had become closer to a few more people I didn't know so well.

For the rest of the week, after a warm-up of the basic step, we learned different combinations with partners.

My favorite was one in which the leader turns the follower, crossing the follower's arms. Both partners do part of the basic step in this position, called the "cuddle position" because the partners are close next to each other. Then the follower turns back to face the leader.

The hardest combination involved some complicated footwork and awkward arm crossing. First, the leader steps sideways, so that the follower can turn around twice while moving to the opposite side.

Then, the leader turns around, arms crossed in front. Both partners do a little wiggle while the leader uncrosses his arms, then the follower does another turn and moves back to where she started.

It was difficult to end up in the right places while still doing the precise steps. But after I saw Lin and Miao perform a completely nonchoreographed display of the many aspects of salsa dancing, I realized I knew only the simplest steps, and that I have a long way to go if I want to be as graceful a dancer as Miao.

While I don't intend to become a dance teacher, I couldn't help but admire Lin's patience and energy. When demonstrating the proper way to move our arms, he walked with the arm and leg of each side swinging forward at the same time, showing the awkward (and incorrect) way to dance. I suggest trying to walk around that way for a while, especially if you're looking for attention.

Even though the salsa class was right before my lunch period, it went by way too fast. I was always surprised when the bell rang. I couldn't believe 50 minutes had passed, because I was having so much fun!

Lin seemed to share my enthusiasm about the class.

"I had a good time teaching the class and I was impressed with how everyone was polite and learned quickly," he said. "[Being] able to move with a partner and music at the same time is a really cool skill to have. I hope everyone will go forward and enjoy learning more dances."

I will definitely be taking that advice.