Sticking on some Latin tunes and pretending to be Dirty Dancing’s sassy lead, Baby, is a sacred pastime for any woman of a certain age. But if entering a room full of wiggling hips, precise footwork and full-length mirrors makes you quiver, rest assured that a salsa class is not as frightening a scenario as you might think.

The maestros, Jack and Zhenzhen, immediately calm our nerves and prove apt replacements for Patrick Swayze. We begin with the lower half of the body, focusing on the footwork, and gradually move up to the subtle arm movements that tie the routine together. Zhenzhen has us rookies counting the steps, jiggling hips and moving in a vaguely salsa-esque fashion in no time at all. As we swap partners and repeat the moves, the rhythm of the music guides our feet and we feel like we’re actually getting somewhere. By the end of the class, we are whirling and twirling to the music with respectable gusto. And for those of you who are feeling adventurous, Phoenix Dance provides intermediate classes too.

We should mention that Zhenzhen spoke to us predominantly in Mandarin, but who needs words when you’re learning the language of salsa? If you want to leave a class feeling confident, uplifted and sexy, then this is the place to be.

Address Room 1701, Building 4, 15 Zhenzhi Lu, Chaoyang district，朝阳区光华路15号院4号楼泰达时代中心1701室