What: The Vive la Salsa night.

Where: Venom.

When: Friday.

Dance with me: The evening began early with guest dancers from San Francisco, Giju John and Kristen Nolan, taking enthusiastic dancers who had gathered at the nightclub through a workshop that lasted three hours.

Divided into two sections, the workshop took the students through the basics of cha cha cha and salsa. “This is the first time that we are teaching in India and it’s a really good experience,” said Giju. As Giju and Kristen, both part of Salsamania Dance Company, took the group through the basic steps, half-circle, full-circle and slightly more complicated cross-your-feet, there was some major swaying of hips and shaking of shoulders, with the group trying to imitate their teachers’ sensuous body movements. “Use your shoulders when you turn, don’t slouch,” called out Giju and immediately backs were straightened.

But when Vive la Salsa director and chief instructor Aditya Upadhya turned DJ for a part of the evening, it got sticky on the floor, with dancers bumping into each other and missing the count.

The Latin influence continued after the workshop ended with students and guests continuing to jive to tunes like Arranca En Fa, Mariposa Traicionera and Yo Soy Baba Loo. Instruction over, Giju and Kristen took the floor for a sensuous performance to Rang Rangeeli, a salsa number from Giju’s album. Some more dancing and a performance by Aditya and Shaneel later, the regular Friday fever took over as Latin beats gave way to Mauja hi mauja and Hips Don’t Lie.