Salsa at Max E Café, Munich

One of the things i wanted to do in Germany was to dance salsa there .In munich , on day two I asked the german receptionist girl about the two salsa places which I shortlisted from the internet . The first one was at Kultfabrik and second one was at Max Café ,near university . she marked both places on the map which I got free from the hostel and explained me in detail how to get there . Again I am impressed at the german receptionists in general . In a very busy youth hostel it is not their duty to give an indepth explanation of random places and that too with lot of smiles .

Ok ….off to “Kultfabrik “ . This place was an old factory which got bombed during world war two . So what did they do ---the whole area was converted into a nightclub district . I reached there around 2 pm after a 20 mt subway ride . Walked a kilometer from the station and reached a place the size of a football field with some large buildings which looked like shopping malls . There were just 3 people at the gate and otherwise empty . It was queer to see a 100 clubs closed in daytime with no one around . They told me its open after 8 pm . I went back to the hostel after having some coffee and munich sausages .

To all potential travelers to any unknown place I suggest such “scout” views if you get the time . just like visiting the exam centre the day before to get a feel of the place this scout visit will give you an idea of the place before you make a proper visit . “kultfabrik “ in daylight made me realize two things . The sheer desolate look and the distance from the station made me realize though munich is a safe city I should not test the limits . At 1 am at night I will be walking for 1 km in a street with no one around and if I get mugged I have only myself to blame . Im crazy about salsa but not this crazyJ
Regarding german culture Kultfabrik made me realize how important it is the club culture in germany . Mumbai is famous for its nightlife but our bandra and juhu is nowhere near kulfabrik in size .

Kulfabrik is out of my list . Will I do salsa in munich ???? Yes I will . It was a challenge . Again I saw my confidante, the counselor the german receptionist ----I ordered a coffee too at the reception ---I didn’t want to get free advice .I told her Kulfabrik was a little desolate(didn’t tell her that I was plain scared to go there at night ) and I wanted a place which is closer to the hostel . She endorsed the Max café . She didn’t know the exact place (she was not a salsa dancer ) but the area near university she told me is an excellent safe place with lot of students . She told me if you didn’t like that club there was always a lot of choice available . (Looks like she does a lot of clubbing ---should I ask her out? J definitely in the next visit )


Again a subway ride this time no scout visit . I reached the place around 8 pm. . The place was beautiful near the university . Old buildings which were at least a hundred years old and lot of students from different countries . I didn’t see any Indians though there were Chinese and blacks . Walking ….. I reached the street and started counting the buildings…..Max café was supposed to be building number 34 . All buildings are neatly numbered ---no confusion ---that’s germany . A nice café , looks more like a 3 star hotel , max café looked classy . A large reception area with many tables around opens into a hallway which opens into a large hall with a DJ place and bar which in turn opens into an open air dining area . All lit by chandeliars and beautiful interior décor in Victorian sorry german style .

No sign of salsa anywhere . Then through a half open door I saw a lady in her 30s , by her look a Latina ,teaching around 8 couples probably from germany . And the familiar 123 ,567 ----salsa beats . Steps looked familiar as I had finished basic salsa training in Mumbai . But there were few differences ---our latina teacher sensuous as ever was extremely confidant in her teaching and still always smiling and cracking jokes . My first teacher in Mumbai was not . The crowd ,mostly german couples, were good students trying to learn the moves . Salsa dancing can be sensuous , flirty , beautiful ,fun ……. Here in germany it was fun ---- couples were all smiling , but quite serious in learning . As I was staring (joking I stopped my stares the moment I landed in Nurnberg airport ) the teacher came to me. I asked her about the salsa night . She told me there would be salsa nite at 9 30 after a small workshop . She invited me to watch the class which is ongoing and join the salsa nite later at night . I sat and watched her class .till 930
. A difference I observed at salsa classes in germany is there is no exchange of partners so if your partner is a bad dancer you are stuck just like a bad marriage . In Mumbai you need not take a partner to salsa class .On go there you get partner for dancing .So both Mumbai and munich has its own flavour of salsa dancing . Of course for salsa nites anywhere in the world no need to take a partner from home .

. 09:00 pm Max Café ---Munich Germany ………the students most of them germans are gone .The dance floor is almost empty . Our Latina teacher shall I call her Jennifer lopez J is at the DJ counter . By 9 :30 people are trickling in-- an entire new set of people . Some students some of them Chinese , one or two black students , some germans and at least 10 or more latin origin people . And I representing my country . . Workshop started . But there is a small problem . The sex ratio is something like 15:14 . And who is the unlucky one …any guesses ---me .What happened was --- New place , new instructor I was so much distracted that I missed out on catching the partner in the rush . For 1 minute I danced by myself .

Then , from somewhere a latin girl landed .I got ready to ask her hand in dancing salsa style. I looked around . 10 metres away a huge latin guy was watching us . Should I ask her to dance with me ?? (and get bashed up after I get out at 12 midnite ) . Seeing my hesitation the latin guy gestured . hey he is gesturing me to ask her to dance J . Green signal ----there I go . In salsa style showed the hand to the latin girl . She was happy to get a partner . We danced for sometime and I asked her something in English and she smiled and answered me back ---in Spanish /Portuguese . Great J . I thanked her in English after the dance and she ? thanked me (in Spanish/Portuguese of course ) . On a serious note dance ,music ….unites people inspite of racial ,cultural differences . I wish all the warring religious , racial biased people learnt salsa .


After the workshop the mood changed on the dance floor . How do you describe an avalanche or volcanic eruption in words? . I cannot but will try . DJ was mixing the finest latin tunes ---salsa, cha cha , samba , bachata . Salsa was cool with all the spinning turns , dips . Latinas on the dance floor were dancing like they were on fire . And our big bad latin guy was on the floor leading and dancing quite well considering his size. The latin girls were doing the intricate steps in perfect rhythm but one key difference from Mumbai salsa scene . Here there was the perfect dance with all the complicated moves with the added passion . Like spicy masala to chicken curry it made the whole dance music a surreal experience .

Then there were many blacks dancing with german girls , a young Chinese guy dancing with his recent german lover ( how did I know they were lovers ?? any guesses love has no race or religion ) . I enjoyed the dance and more than that this sight of many different nationalities dancing to the music . AND THIS IS THE CITY WHERE THE NAZIS FIRST STARTED THEIR PARTY ACTIVITIES which ended in killing of ? millions of jews . Was I impressed more with the sensuality of my favourite dance or this interracial unity ? I don’t know .

Lastly I saw an old man maybe 65+ walking around the dance floor . He was having a peculiar gait some orthopaedic problem sure and was smiling intermittently . I thought what this guy is doing here. Not because of his age because then I can also be thrown out J but because of his orthopaedic problem . 5 minutes later I looked again and there he was in the centre of dance floor dancing with a latin girl . Then I looked at him again ; yes his salsa is not fast enough but acceptable . Then I looked at his features . I remembered , I have seen pictures of people like him in travel journals ---------Cuban J . And who am I to say he should be out from the dance floor ---its his forefathers that discovered this fantastic dance form SALSA -----and my role is only to admire and Dance -------SALSA in munich or mumbai or anywhere .


p.s ---comments welcome .