have the time of your life on the Buenos Aires dance circuit

Wow, just wow. I never thought I would enjoy my time in Buenos Aires so much but it truly is a city that never sleeps - well, at least when it comes to dancing.

Before I arrived in the city, I didn't have much experience in terms of dancing Bachata and Salsa, but I somehow ended up spending two weeks immersed in classes and the social dancing clubs that can be found in this wonderful city.

So if you find yourself wondering where to dance Bachata and Salsa in Buenos Aires, here's my guide on how to go from complete novice to dancing Queen, in 3 simple steps...

1. Take a class

No one likes to be the girl sitting on the benches as the crowd dances in front of her (like that scene in Grease at the high school dance - awkward). So before you hit the clubs it helps to have a basic foundation and understanding of what is expected of you when you attempt to bust a move on the dance floor.

Buenos Aires Dance Club has an amazing range of classes to suit all levels across different styles of dance. Sign up for the beginners classes and be prepared for a very warm welcome (although it will be in Spanish!). I was so nervous when I turned up for my first class but had absolutely nothing to worry about. The people are super friendly, happy to help and the teachers are simple wonderful. Take a look at Brian and Carla's Instagram accounts for a sneak preview.

Most of the clubs listed in Step 2 also provide classes so be sure to check them out too to find the right fit for you.

2. Find a club that you like to practise your moves (and your Spanish)

If you're a little nervous about dancing in public for the first time, I found it helpful to own up to the fact that I was new to Bachata and Salsa and usually introduced myself with one of the two following phrases:

"Es mi primera vez bailando. Baila Bachata / Salsa conmigo por favor" = It's my first time dancing. Dance Bachata/Salsa with me please?

"Soy nueva en Bachata / Salsa" = I'm new to Bachata/Salsa

A friend of mine didn't think this was necessary but I personally felt more comfortable telling people so they could adapt to my level (and practise patience when I made a wrong move).

Spanish phrases practised and perfected, I was lucky enough to frequent quite a few of the local social dancing clubs. Here's a bit about them and when to go, based on my experience. The entrance fee for all of them was between $100-250 ARS

Feeling - Monday

This club is fairly small and usually hosts all levels from beginner to advanced. The crowd is awesome and friendly. It's super chilled and generally has a really good vibe to it. There's one dance floor which alternates between Salsa and Bachata music, a small bar but no Wifi. Be sure to pre-book and Uber home or find someone to provide you with a hotspot at the end of the night

El Rumbon - Wednesday

Personally I loved this place. It's super basic in the sense that it looks a little like a town hall/social club but the crowd is wonderful and a mix of all levels. If you happen to take classes at Buenos Aires Dance Club then you're likely to see many people you know at El Rumbon on a Wednesday night, which makes for a lot of fun and is ideal for practising with people you're familiar with. There are two separate dance floors, one for Salsa and one for Bachata, so you can dedicate time to your preferred style or switch between the two whenever you like throughout the night. There's a small bar, they will serve you tap water if you ask (instead of consuming plastic bottles) but there is no Wifi. Again, this wasn't a problem for me, I just found someone to hotspot from.

Seis Grados - Thursday

The level at Seis Grados was very high but people were generally really friendly. I didn't dance as much as at other places as I was fairly intimidated (ha!) and, in my opinion, it seemed as though there were fewer men than women, so naturally there was an overflow of people who weren't dancing all the time. The owners are great and this place is fantastic for watching and learning from people who really know what they are doing.

Azucar - Friday, Saturday, Sunday

I cannot say enough positive things about this club. I absolutely loved everything about it. The girl on reception is wonderful, the bar man made me laugh every time I spoke to him and had no problem with me constantly asking for tap water and the crowd was nothing short of wonderful, friendly, open, helpful and fun. If you want to dance with amazing people of all skill levels, this is the place to go. Friday and Saturday are naturally busier but Sunday is also good because the crowd is smaller and more relaxed so it's a good time to practise. I got asked to dance so much here that I could barely find a moment to take a sip of water. I would definitely recommend a visit. And it has Wifi!

KissMe - Wednesday & Saturday

I didn't personally make it to KissMe but a friend of mine went and really enjoyed it. Apparently the level was very high.

3. Be sensible, be safe

Naturally if you're going to venture to clubs alone (or even with a friend) it pays to put common sense to use and have a few things in place to help you to have the best time possible.

• Tell your hostel where you're going and when they can expect you back - the clubs close between 3-6am depending on the venue and the day of the week.

• Take an Uber to and from the club. They are generally considered safer than the local taxi firms.

• Get access to the Wifi as soon as you arrive at the club. If there is no Wifi, find someone who speaks English over the course of the night and ask them to give you access to a hotspot. If this fails, find the security guard or owner and explain the situation. No one will refuse to help you get home safely.

• Watch your drink. Alcoholic or not, you can never be too careful. As a tourist you're more likely than not to stand out so just be aware of this and exercise a normal level of caution.

• Watch you bag. Do not take anything with you that you can't afford to lose. Personally I took flat shoes, my phone, one credit card and some cash. I always made sure my card and my phone were on me (in my pocket).

• Trust your instinct. If a man is too close, too touchy, too intimate, too interested, move on. I failed to remember this at one point and won't be making that mistake again.

4. Have fun!

Ok, so maybe this is a 4 simple steps guide but this last one is really important. Don't worry about knowing all the moves, being the best on the dance floor, not wearing the right outfit or tripping over your Birkenstocks because you forgot to pack your high heels. Dancing should be fun above everything else. Yes it is great to learn and know the formal moves, and it certainly helps, but it can take years to perfect. What are you going to do in the meantime? Carry a watermelon?

Nah. F**k that! Nobody puts Baby (that's you) in a corner! I had so much fun because I stopped caring about doing it 'right' or 'wrong' and instead just focused on having a good time, meeting new people and making local connections. It's all about your energy and how you carry yourself that matters - people are there to enjoy themselves and that's not achieved solely through great dancing. If that were true then only the best dancers would ever make it onto the floor but both myself and my friends agreed that some (not all) of the 'better' dancers were actually a bit dull. Their energy was flat and...boring. There was no fun to be had there.

Regardless of their level, the majority of people couldn't have cared less that I was new to it. They embraced it, laughed at me when I went wrong, told me what I should do to be right next time and then carried on. They went on to become friends not because I am the best dancer but because we enjoyed our time together as a complete experience. We chatted, we drank, we laughed...and we danced. In two weeks of dancing almost every night, only two men were rude to me when I went wrong and it turns out that wasn't personal. Other people I know found them to be arrogant too so it was nothing to do with me, and everything to do with their ego and self image. So get out there, dance your heart out, make a fool of yourself, try to learn something of course, definitely make some local friends (I'm genuinely considering going back for my birthday haha) but above everything else HAVE FUN!