Heat of the moment

WHEN Gregory Abouna decided to launch salsa classes in Darlington, he didn’t expect it to be a hotbed for romance – not only did he meet his fiance Sarah, but his classes have sparked several other romances as well.

The salsa at Voodoo Cafe may not have the sequins, spray tans and six packs we’re used to on Strictly, but mirroring scenes in the new Hollywood romcom Cuban Fury, the dancefloor seems to be sizzling.

“I’ve had many people get together, some have even got married and had a baby,” says Gregory, who has been teaching various forms of salsa for the last four years. “It’s a great ice-breaker and salsa is a very close dance, so if you like somebody and don’t know how to approach them, it can accelerate things. Sometimes you’ll connect with a partner, sometimes you won’t, but when you do, it’s wonderful and very exhilarating.”

Having grown up in Haiti, Gregory has always had a passion for Latin music. He recalls the carnival when he was a child being as big as Christmas with the whole city coming to a standstill and everyone dancing on the street.

It wasn’t until he lost his mother in the Haiti earthquake in 2010, that he began to think more seriously about music and pursuing his ambition to launch a dance company.

“After my mum died, I went back to Haiti and it was devastating,” he says. “For a long time she used to say, ‘Gregory, you should teach salsa’, but I was always apprehensive and didn’t have the confidence to do it. Then, when I came back to Darlington, it was like somebody grabbed my hand, something took over and every door seemed to open.”

He was not only given the opportunity to start his dance company, Creole Carnival, but he met Sarah, his fiancee. They plan to marry in July.

Although Gregory had been to salsa nights in the region before, he felt there was something missing. “Coming from the Caribbean, I was drawn to the Latin environment because that’s where I felt most comfortable,” he says.

“But when I came here and saw salsa, it felt a bit too cold and rigid, as though something was missing.”

Gregory wanted to instill a more relaxed, informal approach so people could have fun and wouldn’t feel intimidated about turning up on their own. He teaches mainly Cuban-style salsa including Rueda, a dance performed in a circle where partners move around, and Bachata, which has its origins in the Dominican Republic. As well as weekly salsa classes, he also throws a Latin and Afro-Caribbean party night on the last Sunday of every month featuring guest dance teachers from around the UK to keep up with the latest trends.

Over the past few years, Gregory has been teaching about 30 people a week to dance, many of whom have ended up dating and even getting married. “I can tell if the chemistry is there, but I don’t get involved,” he says.

One Darlington couple who got together at salsa are Harrowgate Hill Primary School teaching assistant Lindsey Robinson and her partner Robert Davies, who works in logistics.

“I only agreed to try salsa as Lindsey was going with friends and I fancied her,” says Robert. A few months later in October 2010, they began a relationship and their first child, Anna, was born in September 2012.

Gregory Abouna with fiancee Sarah

Another couple who met on the dancefloor are hotel manager, Magdalena, and her husband, IT support worker, Saad Charif. They held their wedding party at Voodoo Cafe and Gregory and other members of the class were among the guests.

“I met Magdalena at the end-of-the-month party,” says Saad. “It was the first time I’d ever been to salsa. She was sitting on her own so trying to be a gentleman, I asked her to dance. She was a good dancer, but says I was useless – although she didn’t tell me at the time.”

Saad believes if it wasn’t for salsa, they wouldn’t be together now. “I think it helped in a lot of ways because it’s not just a dance, it’s a social thing,” he says.

Gregory welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds, whether they’re single or attached. Couples do have to be prepared to dance with other members of the group, though.

As well as the social side and chance to meet new people, there are also the health benefits: just 30 minutes of Salsa is said to burn 185 calories.

Gregory still has family and friends in Haiti and lots of happy memories from growing up in the Caribbean. “I’ve always kept that joy of life in me,”

he says. “I guess that’s what attracts people when they come through the door.”

• Voodoo Cafe, 84 Skinnergate, Darlington. T: 01325-467555.
• For further information on salsa visit Creolecarnival.co.uk