You’re in the mood for a non-keg-related night out, but going to the club and popping it Beyoncé style has been getting a little old lately. What other options could there be? How about salsa? St. Louis actually has some decent salsa clubs, or at least clubs that have special salsa nights.

For instance, there’s Club Viva. On any other night of the week, you’d probably walk right past this basement club in the Central West End. However, on Thursday and Saturday nights, the salsa beats are pulsing. Located at 408 N. Euclid, Club Viva plays salsa so authentic that there’s even an elderly man who shakes maracas. The club has a strict 21 and older policy and is free to ladies, but has a $5 cover for guys.

The event draws a decently-sized crowd of varying skill levels, so if you’ve never salsa-ed before, you won’t stand out like a sore, awkward thumb. They even offer a free lesson to teach you the basics. While it’s advertised to start at 8 p.m., the earliest you’d need to be there is 8:30. Unless you bring a partner, you will be paired up with someone you don’t know during the lesson, but it’s not that bad. Even as a feminist with personal space issues, I didn’t find letting a strange man lead me around too uncomfortable.

The freestyle salsa starts after the lesson, but like most night spots, it doesn’t truly pick up until around 10:30, which gives you plenty of times to practice or drink yourself into a sense of comfort.

There is also no clique feel to the club; some salsa clubs tend to pull in hardcore, repeat salsa dancers, leaving a divide between those who can and can’t dance. But at Club Viva there are always new people coming to learn.

“There are some repeats,” said Carmen Guynn, the salsa instructor on Thursday nights, “but for the most part, it’s new people every week.”

As far as attire goes, people wear everything from jeans to smoking-hot red dresses. For ladies, wearing high heels can help you with the motion and nature of the steps, but remember, it’s not necessary and flats may make it easier to stay standing and remain blister-free.

Other St. Louis clubs with salsa include Dante’s, on Olive St., which has Latin dancing on Fridays with a lesson starting at 9 p.m. and Atomic Cowboy, on Manchester, with salsa every Sunday at 10 p.m. While Atomic Cowboy has no lessons, fellow dancers will offer words of advice. However, this learn-it-as-you-go feel means that the dancers who go to Atomic Cowboy are more experienced.

So, if you’re looking for a new adventure, try salsa. It provides laughs and giggles as well as a great way to meet new people. So go and shake your bon bon. You know you want to.