Rueda

[MadamSamba]

Hiya, folks.

Just interested in what experiences people have had with rueda and what they think. I've seen it a couple of times in the past few weeks and am fascinated and am thinking about taking lessons.

Is it difficult to learn? Does it take long? Will you be OK learning it if you know a little salsa?

Tell me, tell me, tell me, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease. :)

[youngsta]

It's not hard to learn at all. For most guys just listening to the calls and reacting is probably the hardest thing since you're essentially 'following' the caller and not leading. I love it every now and then...nice change of pace! Adios!!

[SDsalsaguy]

Just starting to learn myself. As best I can tell, if you already know salsa it'll be a snap for you. There are only a few moves where the woman needs to really know the calls/moves – most of them she can just follow. One tip however...stay put! Don't try to "track" your man the way you might if you were just couples dancing. Especially until you learn all the calls you just need to wait for whichever guy is going to pick you up to come and do so.

Speaking of rueda, I vaguely remember a link to a site with the various rueda moves/names/calls on it... does anyone have or know of such a link?

[pygmalion]

Hope this helps. A lot of this stuff is Greek (or should I say Spanish? *shrug* to me.) But here's a link. Does anybody else have another?

http://sg.geocities.com/ngyewch/salsa/casino-rueda.html

I have to learn to speak Spanish! :?

[Danish Guy]

Note that even the core calls can have different steps or names.

In this little place as Århus, there are variations, because the teachers have been learning the calls different places :shock: :(

But it is great fun.

I found a couple of linke a while ago.

This link with text

http://www.salsarueda.com/rueda/rueda_calls.html

And this Swedish link with English text and with video.

http://hem.passagen.se/salsa_skane/miami_rueda/Miami_Rueda.htm

[Salsero_AT]

Also try this link: http://www.salsacasino.com

There are some videos on this site.

I like dancing rueda very much and if you are a beginner it teaches you timing and you get to know many people very easily.

Have fun
Christian

[pygmalion]

Hi, Salsero_AT! Welcome to the forums! :D

Thanks for the link. :D I'm considering attending a few rueda lessons myself, since there's a studio five minutes from my place. Nothing yet, though. :?

Thanks for joining us. I look forward to seeing you in the forums. :D

Jenn

[Salsero_AT]

Thanks for the welcoming :D

I hope you try rueda one time, it is really great fun... and you can also do some quite challenging figures ... "torniquette" (from Salsalovers i think) for a example is a very fast move influenced by LA style ... which leaves me exhausted if i do it a couple of times 8)

[pygmalion]

I probably will try it in a couple weeks. There are classes about 2 miles from my house, on Wednesday and Friday nights. I'm working hard on another dance project right now, so I've put all my new dance plans on hold for a while, so I can focus and practice. So probably in November. I hear rueda is really fun. :D

[SDsalsaguy]

Welcome to the forums Salsero_AT...and thanks for the rueda link! :D

[peachexploration]

Hiya, folks.

Just interested in what experiences people have had with rueda and what they think. I've seen it a couple of times in the past few weeks and am fascinated and am thinking about taking lessons.

Is it difficult to learn? Does it take long? Will you be OK learning it if you know a little salsa?

Tell me, tell me, tell me, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease. :)

Hi MS. I've taken Casino Rueda and absolutely love it! For beginners, the most important calls to know are "Dame" (Changing partners) and "Dile que No" (Cross body lead for One on One Salsa). To get a head start on Dance patterns, check out http://www.salsa-rueda.de/index_clip.php

The site may be in German but the patterns are pretty much the same. Enjoy! Una Bulla!

[salsa-surfer]

...one more link with rueda-clips:

http://www.abailarmadrid.com/mayoweb/salsa-intermedio.htm

[MadamSamba]

Wow! Thanks so much for all your advice, links and, most of all, enthusiasm!! :) I'm terribly excited about starting classes in a couple of weeks time! :) The video links are especially great.

[Sagitta]

So started the salsa rueda classes yet MadamSamba? I've been doing it for about 5 weeks now and having a lot of fun at it. :)

[Sagitta]

Just learnt a second basic rueda step, an alternative gaupea step. Instead of stepping as in salsa quick, quick, slow...it is quick,quick,quick,quick. I'm curious which versions you ruderos/as have done and which one you prefer, and why.

Version A
Leader Follower
R 1-2. step L
L 3 step R
R 4 step L
L 5-6 step R
R 7 step L
L 8 step R

Version B
Leader follower

R 1.step L
L 2. tap R
L 3. step R
R 4. step L
L 5. tap R
L 6. step R
R 7. cross-step L
L 8. step R

[tj]

Just learnt a second basic rueda step, an alternative gaupea step. Instead of stepping as in salsa quick, quick, slow...it is quick,quick,quick,quick. I'm curious which versions you ruderos/as have done and which one you prefer, and why.

Version A
Leader Follower
R 1-2. step L
L 3 step R
R 4 step L
L 5-6 step R
R 7 step L
L 8 step R

Version B
Leader follower

R 1.step L
L 2. tap R
L 3. step R
R 4. step L
L 5. tap R
L 6. step R
R 7. cross-step L
L 8. step R

Fascinating - this is On2, isn't it!!!

Are you doing Rueda On2 then? Neat!

[Sagitta]

It actually is on3. If on1 it would go something like

Version B -- Leader L and follower R hands joined together at all times
Leader
L 1. Step, almost like 5th positon break, quick, Leader L-follower R hand down, faces to center
R 2. Step, in place, quick, Leader L-follower R hands coming up.
L 3-4 Step, Slow, hands up
R 5, step forward so foot overlaps followers forward foot slightly, quick, Leader R-follower L meet, while leader L guides follower R down so leader and follower face each other
L 6, step in place, quick, Leader R and follower left push off each other, other hands coming up.
R 7-8, step, slow, leader and follower facing center of circle at end with leader L and follower R hands up

Notice the transposition.

I really haven't done much on2, of which I've seen at least 3 versions of for the salsa basic step, to guess what that would be for the rueda guapea step.

[tj]

Notice the transposition.

I really have done much on2, of which I've seen at least 3 versions of for the salsa basic step, to guess what that would be for the rueda guapea step.

Neat, I can only begin to imagine how screwed up my footwork would be if I didn't concentrate really hard while trying this! :shock:

[Pacion]

:banana: I lurvvee rueda! :banana: I think it can really bring out the "community"/social/party aspect of a salsa event. (Or maybe I just like the variety :wink: )

Two extremes? Sydney and London. In Sydney, before you could blink twice, a circle would form at certain party nights/events. In London/UK, you can have your eyes wide open for two hours (!) (in case you should blink and miss it) and still, nothing :oops: Sadly, whilst there was a strong cuban influence, it seems that some of the "youngsters" are unappreciative :cry: and seem to prefer the "coupleness" of the dance rather than looking out to the wider more sociable aspect :(

The only "problem" with Sydney is that you (me!) might have been having a great time with a great partner and before you could blink twice a circle has formed :lol: therefore disrupting the potential chemistry I was building with my partner :oops:

Still, if I had a choice, I would prefer the Sydney scene of lots of rueda rather than the London scene which seems to have a very individualistic, competitive, look-at-me-I-am-too-hot-to-trot attitude :roll:

[tj]

:banana: I lurvvee rueda! :banana: I think it can really bring out the "community"/social/party aspect of a salsa event. (Or maybe I just like the variety :wink: )

It certainly can be fun. But I've seen Rueda get political, too.


Still, if I had a choice, I would prefer the Sydney scene of lots of rueda rather than the London scene which seems to have a very individualistic, competitive, look-at-me-I-am-too-hot-to-trot attitude :roll:
I hadn't given it much thought, but this is totally right on about other LA Style scenes, too. Hmm...

[salsachinita]

In Sydney, before you could blink twice, a circle would form at certain party nights/events.

Pacion, if you come back to Sydney you would find that it's all totally different now. I was pretty shock at the changes that tok place within the year :shock: .

This time I was struggling to find good rueda to be part of...took me a bit of time....while I endured some of the worst rueda ever :x !

......which seems to have a very individualistic, competitive, look-at-me-I-am-too-hot-to-trot attitude :roll:

Very sadly it seems to be the way all big cities are going these days :cry: ! Sydney had got to be one of most obvious one guilty for this. I have fun in Sydney nontheless, as I've located where the true Cubanos/Latinos hangout & dance rueda/casino with their hearts & souls 8) .

[youngsta]

Everyone seems to be so pessimistic about the salsa scene yet when I dance in big cities (LA in particular) I get a lot of good vibes and know some great people. This "look-at-me-I-am-too-hot-to-trot attitude" is not the majority at all.

[salsachinita]

Everyone seems to be so pessimistic about the salsa scene yet when I dance in big cities (LA in particular) I get a lot of good vibes and know some great people. This "look-at-me-I-am-too-hot-to-trot attitude" is not the majority at all.

Good to know that, Youngsta! I guess my personal experience on the receiving end of this attitude is not a regular occcurance then *phew*!?

[johnnywalker]

Everyone seems to be so pessimistic about the salsa scene yet when I dance in big cities (LA in particular) I get a lot of good vibes and know some great people. This "look-at-me-I-am-too-hot-to-trot attitude" is not the majority at all.

I don't know if there's so much pessimism in the Salsa scene in Sydney but Rueda has certainly made a decline. I'm not certain what the reasons might be but quite some time ago Oliver and Natalie seemed to be having problems getting people to go out after class to one of the venues (The Daintree at Darling Harbour). Like with everything, beginner classes were usually well populated but by the time you get to level five or six the numbers would have diminished to approximately 4 or 5 couples.
Salsa itself doesn't appear to be having any problems (although I haven't been at it for a while). Friends of mine seem to suggest that Salsa still enjoys great popularity and there always seems to be another school or intstructor offering their services in the local Sydney weekly (entertainment) magazine.

Whatever the case, I still very much enjoy Rueda and will return to it when the opportunity arises. You can easily convert many of the steps into Salsa and, if you're partner knows Rueda, you can cheat in the lead by calling out the move :D :lol: .

BTW, does anyone have a description of the hand signals used for the steps?

[SDsalsaguy]

Everyone seems to be so pessimistic about the salsa scene yet when I dance in big cities (LA in particular) I get a lot of good vibes and know some great people. This "look-at-me-I-am-too-hot-to-trot attitude" is not the majority at all.
I don't know youngsta, I'm not pesimistic per se, but I do find that LA has way too much ego/tesetosterone going on sand that the same element seems to creep in as soon as teams start popping up in a city... certainly doesn't mean that this attitude is universal in those cities or even to all the members of such teams, just that I've seen and heard of this trend in many, many places. Make of it what you will...

[youngsta]

Don't get me wrong I've seen it, but it's far from the majority of dancers. Maybe it seems so prevalent becasue many of the people with that attitude are the more well known dancers in the area. As far as how this relates to Rueda, in my scene Rueda is fairly small but most of them have attitudes. Strange phenomena :lol:

[dragon3085]

I think the two hardest things intially is that of learning the calls, and the fact that the basic step is reverse of what I'm normally doing. Having said that, once you do learn the call, I think that actually makes things a little easier. But TJ on here is the Rueda king. :-)

[Sagitta]

Whatever the case, I still very much enjoy Rueda and will return to it when the opportunity arises. You can easily convert many of the steps into Salsa and, if you're partner knows Rueda, you can cheat in the lead by calling out the move :D :lol: .

BTW, does anyone have a description of the hand signals used for the steps?

I don't, though I would love it if someone had and could share that with us.

[peachexploration]

:D Here are a few hand signs for Rueda:

PARA'EL MEDIO or PA'EL CENTRO
To the middle
Hand sign: stretched arm moving up and down showing to the center of the circle

PARA ABAJO
To face?
Hand sign: thumb showing towards the leader's back
(DOS) EXHIBE LA
Exhibit her
Hand sign: finger pointing to the eye
DILE QUE NO
I don't like this or Cross body lead
Hand sign: 'No' sign with hands or head part.

DAME (LA) UNA
Give me one
Hand sign: one finger up

DAME OTRA or ESA NO ME GUSTA
Another one or 'I don't like this one'
Hand sign: one finger up
DAME DOS (with more than 2 couples) or TRES or QUATTRO
Give me two
Hand sign: two fingers up or peace sign

DAME DOS (with 2 couples)
Give me two
Hand sign: two fingers up or peace sign

ENCHUFLE
Connect.
Hand sign: Closed fist held up, arm moves up and down, like pulling on a truckers horn

DOBLE ENCHUFLE or ENCHUFLE DOBLE
Double connect
Hand sign: Closed fist held up, arm moves up and down, like pulling on a truckers horn, with pointer and pinkie fingers up; two fingers means double

ADIOS
Good-bye
Hand sign: wave good-bye

ADIOS CON HERMANA
Good-bye with the sister
Hand sign: Wave good-bye then hand to the chest


ZIPPER
Zipper
Hand sign: hand on zipper

VACILALA
Check her out, enjoy her
Hand sign: finger point at eye
SETENTA
70
Hand sign: 7 - 0

COCA COLA
Coca Cola
Hand sign: drinking sign

EL DEDO
The finger
Hand sign: middle finger, or pinkie finger


VACILALA SENTADA
Check her out, enjoy her ...
Hand sign: finger point at eye

[Sagitta]

Much needed. Thanks peach. I called yesterday and my voice is hoarse. :( Need to do hand signals as I don't like killing my vocal cords.

[Pacion]

Maybe it seems so prevalent becasue many of the people with that attitude are the more well known dancers in the area.

Salsachinita, I am sorry to hear that the Sydney scene is changing so much :( . Youngsta, some of the "best" dancers/teachers I knew in Sydney would be actively involved in rueda when it formed. So, in my experience, it is not necessarily the "best" who are giving off the attitude. It is a bit hard to explain verbally (therefore you will just have to go to Sydney and see if you can get a feel for what I am trying to describe :wink: ) but if you think of "the best party" you have been to, with spontaneous conga lines etc and change the style of dancing to salsa/rueda, that might come close to the sort of atmosphere I am trying to describe: friendly, very social/"community" rather than - this is a dance for just two people and it is even better when "danced by one, ie me, because I am so fantabulous" :( :lol:

[johnnywalker]

Thanks for the feedback Peach...now if I can remember to look at the caller I might not have so many problems :D :oops:

[salsachinita]

Salsachinita, I am sorry to hear that the Sydney scene is changing so much.

Funny you should say that. A recently arrived Cuban had introduced me to his friend (another Cubano) who had been living in Sydney for the last 4 years. he also said that now (compared to before) they find it hard to find salsa clubs with Cuban flavas. The L.A. flashy style is taking over club floors everywhere (not that there's anything wrong with that, if only people didn't adopt the 'elite' attitudes to go with it :roll: )

While we are noticing this change in the Melbourne, we still have a fairly solid following of Casino (Rueda may or may not get done) style. The people (who follow the style) are generally more down-to-earth & fun loving (techniques & tricks are not their main concern, can also be problematic too). Needless to say I had a fantastic night dancing til we got kicked out :P . Our Sydney visitor was impressed.

Well, sista, you just gotta come down to Melbourne & see for yourself then :wink: .

[Sagitta]

I did two ruedas tonight. I got upset when the circle got bigger and people jumped in and didn't know what they were doing. I ended up without anyone a couple times and got really upset as I had to go hunt for people. I almost dropped out, but I decided to just stick to it. :? Really mixed feelings as I did not enjoy it when it became a mish mash. :(

[don_svendo]

...now if I can remember to look at the caller I might not have so many problems :D :oops:
Also check out the links posted at the start of this thread for more hand signs, some with videos as well.

[don_svendo]

I did two ruedas tonight. I got upset when the circle got bigger and people jumped in and didn't know what they were doing.
Hmm, I accidentally joined a "too advanced" circle last evening... :oops:
Followers might get away with it, I guess, but leaders should probably observe the circle for a while before they decide to join.

[Pacion]

A recently arrived Cuban had introduced me to his friend (another Cubano) who had been living in Sydney for the last 4 years. he also said that now (compared to before) they find it hard to find salsa clubs with Cuban flavas.

:shock: Okay, I am going to test my "Six Degrees of Separation" here. The guy who has been living in Sydney for the last 4 years... he wouldn't happen to be about/over six ft tall, dark and IMO with a very chiselled male model type face would he and a body suitable for the Diet Coke ad :wink: ? Another way of describing him? A very chiselled, younger version of Harry Belafonte? I met a guy when I was there who had only been in Sydney for a few months (this was in 2000) and had just moved there. His wife is Australian with spanish ancestory.

PS. Did you by any chance meet Jose Prates when you were in Sydney?

[pygmalion]

It's an amazingly small world, sometime, isn't it, Pacion? I wonder if it's the same guy. 8)

[Pacion]

:lol: Yes, I am wondering too! I could have PMed Salsachinita but this way, it is more fun :D

Ditto about it being a small world! I can't get up to any innocent mischief without the prospect of being found out :shock: :lol:

[pygmalion]

Innocent, huh? :wink: :lol:

And about getting found out? Hey. You may not get away with it for long, whatever it is. But it sure is fun while you try. :wink: :lol:

[Pacion]

Oh but the shame of being found out! :lol:

[salsachinita]

A recently arrived Cuban had introduced me to his friend (another Cubano) who had been living in Sydney for the last 4 years. he also said that now (compared to before) they find it hard to find salsa clubs with Cuban flavas.

:shock: Okay, I am going to test my "Six Degrees of Separation" here. The guy who has been living in Sydney for the last 4 years... he wouldn't happen to be about/over six ft tall, dark and IMO with a very chiselled male model type face would he and a body suitable for the Diet Coke ad :wink: ? Another way of describing him? A very chiselled, younger version of Harry Belafonte? I met a guy when I was there who had only been in Sydney for a few months (this was in 2000) and had just moved there. His wife is Australian with spanish ancestory.

PS. Did you by any chance meet Jose Prates when you were in Sydney?

Sorry to disappoint you, Pacion!

But a short answer to both your questions: "no". I might know your Coke commercial guy though :wink: ......plz PM me (enquiring minds yadda yadda....)!

[johnnywalker]

...now if I can remember to look at the caller I might not have so many problems :D :oops:
Also check out the links posted at the start of this thread for more hand signs, some with videos as well.

Hi and Welcome don_svendo.

Thanks for the links. I'll be sure to have a look.

[johnnywalker]

Salsachinita, I am sorry to hear that the Sydney scene is changing so much.

Funny you should say that. A recently arrived Cuban had introduced me to his friend (another Cubano) who had been living in Sydney for the last 4 years. he also said that now (compared to before) they find it hard to find salsa clubs with Cuban flavas. The L.A. flashy style is taking over club floors everywhere (not that there's anything wrong with that, if only people didn't adopt the 'elite' attitudes to go with it :roll: )

While we are noticing this change in the Melbourne, we still have a fairly solid following of Casino (Rueda may or may not get done) style. The people (who follow the style) are generally more down-to-earth & fun loving (techniques & tricks are not their main concern, can also be problematic too). Needless to say I had a fantastic night dancing til we got kicked out :P . Our Sydney visitor was impressed.

.

Funny you should mention these things Salsachinita. A few years back when Latin Motion was introducing the LA Style to Rueda I remember Natalie remarking how she did not like it as much as Cuban but she had to teach it as it was the new trend (or words to that effect). The whole syllabus was reworked about two or three times. Quite a few moves were dropped from the syllabus; mostly from levels 1 and 2. I think it was during this time that the numbers began dropping (only marginally). Also, my big impression was that the flashier style was being adopted too early by beginners (predominantly males). They would see the advanced students practising and then would copy the footwork (or try to I should say). From speaking with some of the girls as the circle progressed, it wasn't wholly appreciated as the guys were too busy concentrating on the flashy moves therefore getting out of time. I personally find good and bad in both styles; the only gripe I tend to have with Rueda are new students not learning the basics properly and wanting to be showy more than proficient.

[Pacion]

Sorry to disappoint you, Pacion!

But a short answer to both your questions: "no".

Okay Ladies (and Guys with enquiring minds :wink: ) , back to work, nothing to see here :wink: :D

[Sabor]

the only situations that i do rueda in is when we are couple dancing and two or three couple get together for a minute or so to play with it and separarte again either with their original partner or someone else.. and thats pretty much the way i like it..

other than that i could get bored pretty easy .. infact only a group of rueda fun loving masters could have me watching for a whole song..

the thing is i like very much going with the flow and improvisation and creation .. many rueda circles lack at least one of those.. besides it maybe fun watching a few times but then it gets to drag.. its like ok ..i know .. i know.. so whats new.. so again.. u need to be at the top of your game and very naturally playful so i enjoy it.. which is not the general case far as i've seen..

also, another important reason for not getting involved much in rueda.. is that i'd prefer to bore myself to sleep than to having to memorize all them calls :lol: .. no way.. i'm more likely to kill myself after a few names .. i honestly couldn't be bothered what move is called what.. i just dance it :lol:

[tj]

I think the two hardest things intially is that of learning the calls, and the fact that the basic step is reverse of what I'm normally doing. Having said that, once you do learn the call, I think that actually makes things a little easier. But TJ on here is the Rueda king. :-)

Lol! Thank you, Dragon!

Actually, since I'm in Seattle now, my style has adapted to be much more LA Style than Casino.

[salsachinita]

Actually, since I'm in Seattle now, my style has adapted to be much more LA Style than Casino.

Looks like I need to re-visit Seattle so we can keep some Cuban flavas alive 8) ........

[tj]

Don't get me wrong I've seen it, but it's far from the majority of dancers. Maybe it seems so prevalent becasue many of the people with that attitude are the more well known dancers in the area. As far as how this relates to Rueda, in my scene Rueda is fairly small but most of them have attitudes. Strange phenomena :lol:

Lol! Hey, those are my *friends* that you're talking about! :doh:

I think what often happens is that people tend to prefer dancing with those people they're most familiar with (and therefore can dance the way that they're most famliar with).

Some deal with people outside of this familiarity zone by being outright rude and snobby.

For example, using Casino as an example. If a Casino style lead tries dancing with a non-Casino follow, the arm tension will likely be "wrong" if he wanted to do more advanced moves. (actually, this applies for most advanced moves within each of the styles)

We all know how it's ok to dance at a lower level than one's optimum, but how we'd all prefer to dance at the highest level possible. In other words, it's ok to dance with someone at a lower level once-in-a-while, but it gets old if you really wanna cut loose and aren't able to all night.

I think this is one of the major causes of the dance snobbishness. Another, IMHO, would be vanity.

[tj]

Actually, since I'm in Seattle now, my style has adapted to be much more LA Style than Casino.

Looks like I need to re-visit Seattle so we can keep some Cuban flavas alive 8) ........

:wink:

Actually, according Eric Freeman (aka El Cubanito), who I talked to last weekend, he says that there's a Cuban (style) scene here in Seattle. I haven't sought it out yet, but I'm sure it's there.

[salsachinita]

I think this is one of the major causes of the dance snobbishness.

Spot-on there, TJ!

That's the reason why I have been making myself a bit of a guinea pig by dancing out of personal comfort zone.

If we are going to have any chance of easing the current segregation within the salsa scene, the best way to start is by opening oneself to the unfamiliar.

[tj]

I think this is one of the major causes of the dance snobbishness.

Spot-on there, TJ!

That's the reason why I have been making myself a bit of a guinea pig by dancing out of personal comfort zone.

If we are going to have any chance of easing the current segregation within the salsa scene, the best way to start is by opening oneself to the unfamiliar.

I think that's such a great attitude and way to go about, SC. If more of us could lead by example, rather than just be one of the sheep and being the way a lot of others are, the dance scene could and would be an even friendlier place.

I have vented about this topic more than once - and I have to say that, for the most part, people are generally nice and polite, but that they *can* be shy or even downright rude.

[youngsta]

Sorry if I was talking about some of your friends tj, but they're really cliquy...especially the guys. I've danced with pretty much all the women in that group, but the guys aren't very social. That's cool, I have no problem with it or them...just pointing out a personal observation. :wink:

[tj]

Sorry if I was talking about some of your friends tj, but they're really cliquy...especially the guys. I've danced with pretty much all the women in that group, but the guys aren't very social. That's cool, I have no problem with it or them...just pointing out a personal observation. :wink:

No problems, R. They've been accused of that in the past.

For a couple of them, they're actually introverts. Nice guys but not personable in the least! Quite odd for instructors - had a conversation with some former students about how that bunch of instructors are introverts.

Same could be said about the cliquey ones here in Seattle. Some may find them to be really nice and friendly. Others will think otherwise.

[Sagitta]

I will know about 50 or so rueda moves cold by the end of this year, and be able to dance them to fast tempo music!! Learnt Dame una y no le llegues, siete mordeno, setenta complicado, dedo Saboreado, dame con coca cola...yesterday and will practice them this Thursday. :banana: being part of an advanced rueda group is great!!

And speaking of advanced, what in your opinion makes an advanced rueda dancer?

[Lita_rulez]

I have started salsa by learning rueda. It is the easyest way IMO to learn salsa for a beginner :
you don't have to concentrate on how to lead that much since the girl already knowes the moves, she will most likely go in the right direction even if your lead is not solid.
you don't have to concentrate on what to do next, since the madre is singing the passes for you.
You don't have to be afraid of boring the life out of your partner in one song, since you wont be dancing he whole time with the same partner.

And besides, while in a circle for the class, every one can see the teacher properly, something I find less and less in congresses (I hardly take any lessons besides congress nowadays)

Now, I have fallen onto the dark side of the force (mambo) and hardly ever do cuban style. Hence no rueda.

The main reason is I got boared out of rueda because the people around us would always come and join the rueda when a few friends and myself would pop one up, and then you are stuck with a bunch of dancers that only know basic figures, and can either get stuck every 3 paterns (god, how many time did I run into the guy following me because he could not tell a "dame" from a "dame ariba"....) or get stuck with the same basic paterns all the time.

I have actually let myself be led into a few rueda lately, and since I have not done any in like 6 or 7 months, I had fun (no really, I was surprised to, probably as much as those who had never seen me dance cuban style :wink: )

The only thing is I have forgotten half (at least) the intricate stuff, and I now find myself compelled to stay basic since I dont remember the other ones !

The owner of the club I usually go to has offered me a pass for 3 month to his clubs, full access to classes and evening venues, every day, I think I am going to take that oportunity to go back to my favourit teacher and get back to some good old rueda !



:D Here are a few hand signs for Rueda:


This is precisely what I hate in Rueda.

I have seen voiceless rueda, and true, it looks amazing all those people doing the same things without speaking.

But I have also danced some, and man is it boaring to death !!!

Part of the fun of rueda is having someone singing the figures coming up, and voiceless rueda are just... tasteless. It is like the diet coke of rueda. Just one calory, no fun.

And the most fun I have in a rueda is when you have two "madre" singing alternatively the figures. And they try to mess each others figure by anouncing something different BEFORE the end of the first one !!

[rueda]

I hope I do not spam this forum by posting this rueda link at any rueda related thread but I think it is really helpful. The english version is not nearly as comprehensive as this german one: http://de.wikibooks.org/wiki/Tanzen:_Salsa:_Rueda_de_Casino
but everyone can join and improve it.

[Salsaonone]

And speaking of advanced, what in your opinion makes an advanced rueda dancer?

To me, what makes an "advanced" rueda dancer is one who doesnt slow down the circle on any consistant level...I mean, everyone messes up, even the caller....but if you can hold your own for most of the dance, then you qualify to me, thats all I need anyway...you dont have to know all the moves, but can pick them up after seeing them a few times...and if you can't get it done, you can at least keep the rhythm and pass the woman on time...of course, I dont think my rueda group does advanced stuff..perhaps intermediate moves..but there is normally little consistancy on who shows up....but when it flows, its great!

[Lucretia]

I guess I have another point of view than most of you. I LOVE rueda because of the mess it sometimes creates. :lol:

You know when you suddenly find three ladies to the left of the room without partners and a bunch of lonely guys somewhere else. It's like when you play the game children do. You have 10 children and 9 chairs. The children walks around the chairs and when the music stops everyone race to get one. :lol: :lol: :lol:

The laugher and relaxed atmosphere a rueda class creates is a great time to learn dancing. Yes everyone know what to do - as far as the calles the latest patterns. But he doesn't always do that....and then it happens....

The laughter builds trust and from trust you can go on and learn new stuff much more quick than you do when you are anxious. The commonly repeated patterns is a excellent way of rehearsing, If you fail one you succeed next. Rueda - if the circle is small enough - is also a very good time to practice small steps and to get used to the space you have at clubs. And you hearth loves the speed - it's a kind of aerobics. You dance much more at Rueda than at an ordinary class.

I have been in a intermediate Rueda class (almost advanced). I actually learned how to follow in this class – no wrong - they introduced me into this art. Most of the guys where better than me (some are real good leaders). These guys and the happy relaxed atmosphere made my Salsa progresses speeding up.

/luc

[Sagitta]

True Luc. You can learn new moves this way. Guess where I learnt el beso and beso doble? Taken from the rueda move "besito".

:wink: :)

[Salsaonone]

True Luc. You can learn new moves this way. Guess where I learnt el beso and beso doble? Taken from the rueda move "besito".

:wink: :)

Yeah, that is the great part of rueda, with a little tweaking of the move, you can incorporate it into your salsa dance. I even tend to break out the reuda holding pattern while dancing salsa to do the moves that I cant figure out how competely tweak into salsa style. Just dont do damme moves (uno).....most followers when dancing salsa dont appreciate being let go and you picking up a new dance partner when its not rueda! :wink:

[angelbaby]

hi all :)

have been learning rueda for last couple of months. loved beginner workshop and learned each step taught. only now they didnt continue with any beginner tuition and the group just tends to dance with calls i never even heard of let alone have learned. is not so bad as i a follow but feel for my partner who is a lead! group says just join in and do what you can and you will pick it up. i have suggested that having a beginner class and teaching step by step is better but until then.... what the heck i'll just whizz around the circle as best i can and try not to laugh out loud too much when the others are all so seriously focussed on remembering something i never even seen before.

mostly the group is friendly; well actually they all friendly - but some are very bossy and they arent the teachers :wink: seems like too many chiefs..... sometimes (not meaning to be culturally offensive by this) do others find this?

[peachexploration]

...mostly the group is friendly; well actually they all friendly - but some are very bossy and they arent the teachers :wink: seems like too many chiefs..... sometimes (not meaning to be culturally offensive by this) do others find this?

Yes, unfortunately you'll find that everywhere you go. Everyone wants to be a chief when they really should be an indian. 8) Welcome Angelbaby! Happy to have you here. :D

[angelbaby]

Cheers :) Happy to be here.

[Sagitta]

True Luc. You can learn new moves this way. Guess where I learnt el beso and beso doble? Taken from the rueda move "besito".

:wink: :)
Just dont do damme moves (uno).....most followers when dancing salsa dont appreciate being let go and you picking up a new dance partner when its not rueda! :wink: Good for doing switches. I've done that. Gone and grabbed another person's follower and he grabs mine. :wink: :)

[Sagitta]

hi all :)

have been learning rueda for last couple of months. loved beginner workshop and learned each step taught. only now they didnt continue with any beginner tuition and the group just tends to dance with calls i never even heard of let alone have learned. is not so bad as i a follow but feel for my partner who is a lead! group says just join in and do what you can and you will pick it up. i have suggested that having a beginner class and teaching step by step is better but until then.... what the heck i'll just whizz around the circle as best i can and try not to laugh out loud too much when the others are all so seriously focussed on remembering something i never even seen before.

mostly the group is friendly; well actually they all friendly - but some are very bossy and they arent the teachers :wink: seems like too many chiefs..... sometimes (not meaning to be culturally offensive by this) do others find this?

Another rueda lover. Cool. :D

[angelbaby]

can be a bit tricky re knowing whether to join a circle - or not. is ok for me as a follow but not so easy for my partner as a lead (as others here have noted). last night he chose not to join as last wk there were a lot of moves we had not yet learned and he had felt like he was stuffing up the circle. so last night we just watched and then thought "oh great we know all those moves and could have joined in :cry: " then a little later "oh thank goodness we arent joined in as we def dont know how to do THAT or THAT! :shock: "

it is our usual reuda gp but we are the newest dancers to the gp. they are very understanding & happy for us to join in any time, but no-one likes to feel like they are stuffing it up for othrs. anyway off to another rueda class/party on the weekend - no doubt to polish up our sambrero or something :?

[Sagitta]

Sombrero, probably angelbaby. There are video clips out there that you can use to help remember and get an idea of the moves. I agree that as a follwer it is easier to join a rueda group.

My group has actually mentioned that they are interested in me learning to call well and pick a song to choreograph so each leader can call one choreographed song. This way it would be easier for us to do performances.

[angelbaby]

aaaagggghghghgh!!!!!!!! just left early from our rueda group again!! it just gets so chaotic and too many ppl telling ppl what to do and how to do it. we go to tango and it is just so nice and peaceful and considerate and rueda is more like a cattle herding. they actually started keeping to some order and carefully teaching the steps one by one and it was so good and now it is back to the old way again. we leave when it is no longer fun or enjoyable. seems like a wonderful dance to learn but we just have a couple of very overbearing experienced dancers in our group who take over. i admire the more peaceful ones who tolerate it and dont get stressed by it. me - i just have to get out of there fast!

sorry to gripe but thanks for listening :wink:

[Sagitta]

Pole sana Angelbaby. That is too bad. My problem is that I don't have teh time. :( I was asked if I wanted to pick a song and choreograph moves to it to perform this July at teh Ithaca festival, but I said no as I am so preoccupied with my Spanish class. :oops:

[angelbaby]

hey sagitta - thanks for responding. am thinking i need to phone the ppl who organise the rueda and share my feelings. hey you might know too. with the setenta do you get all the way around (ie 360 degrees) in the first part of the turn or only 1/2 way around and then after the 2nd part of the turn get the rest of the way around to face into the circle again. ie after the first part of the turn are you facing into the circle again? does that make sense yet ? lol

[angelbaby]

hey sagitta - thanks for responding. am thinking i need to phone the ppl who organise the rueda and share my feelings. hey you might know too. with the setenta do you get all the way around (ie 360 degrees) in the first part of the turn or only 1/2 way around and then after the 2nd part of the turn get the rest of the way around to face into the circle again. ie after the first part of the turn are you facing into the circle again? does that make sense yet ? lol

[Sagitta]

Setenta? I don't lie setenta because the dip my group likes to do. I like setenta complicado though...

After 8 beats you are facing each other. You need to do enchufle again to face the center once more.

[jhb]

After 8 beats you are facing each other. You need to do enchufle again to face the center once more.

I have a question.

Why do some people call it "enchufLe" with an L? Maybe even most people. Is it a local pronciation from somewhere?

"enchufa" or "enchufe" means "plug in'.

[Sagitta]

After 8 beats you are facing each other. You need to do enchufle again to face the center once more.

I have a question.

Why do some people call it "enchufLe" with an L? Maybe even most people. Is it a local pronciation from somewhere?

"enchufa" or "enchufe" means "plug in'.

The verb enchufar does mean to plug in. I just write without paying attention. I guess that the L is what people who don't know any spanish kind of hear. I do a little so I should be more careful. :oops:

[jhb]

The verb enchufar does mean to plug in. I just write without paying attention. I guess that the L is what people who don't know any spanish kind of hear. I do a little so I should be more careful. :oops:

I've heard lots of people use it though, including Cubans, so I don't think it's a mistake! I've heard both, enchufa, and enchufla. I'm curious though where the L variation comes from.

[Ron Obvious]

The verb enchufar does mean to plug in. I just write without paying attention. I guess that the L is what people who don't know any spanish kind of hear. I do a little so I should be more careful. :oops:

I've heard lots of people use it though, including Cubans, so I don't think it's a mistake! I've heard both, enchufa, and enchufla. I'm curious though where the L variation comes from.

Maybe it could somehow come from enchúfala (plug her/it in). Just speculation. But enchufe would be the imperative/subjunctive and enchufa the indicative form, so they are both correct.

[devane]

Both enchufa and enchufla are fine.
We use both in our class. The teacher is Cubana.

[angelbaby]

thanks for setenta info. just noticed that the experienced dancers in our group were doing it 2 diff ways and theyare so very full on it is easier to ask it here!

just heard our tango this fortnight is going on until 6pm (usually ends at 4pm) and rueda goes from 6pm - 8pm. ummm what do i do? prob stay on at tango and join them for coffee after as rueda is just too unruly. shame. must get around to phoning the organiser to tell him how we feel. he is very calm and a good teacher. it is really just one woman who just gets so full on! she ends up calling out and telling the caller what to do! and my partner says this woman would not let him lead her in the setenta and just kept "strong arming" him and kept overriding the caller and re-calling setenta over and over and kept on over-ruling his lead. :twisted: he says he did what he did the same move the way he always does it with another experienced follow and she said he did it fine. :?

really must phone the organiser and just let him know. it has really put us off and most of the ppl (esp the men) are really lovely, gentle, fun ppl to dance with.

will ask more questions re other moves as they come up.
thanks again :)

[Sagitta]

Anytime angelbaby. THere is more than one way to do a move, you know, and my group sometimes changes something simply in order to create a different effect...just making up as we go along... By the way I have noticed two rueda styles so far around here. The Cubans just go for it with their free flowing style while the Miami style is a lot mre structed, more gringo like. My group is slowly moving more and more towards the Cuban style. The sexuality of the moves is quite something... :wink: :)

[devane]

thanks for setenta info. just noticed that the experienced dancers in our group were doing it 2 diff ways and theyare so very full on it is easier to ask it here!

just heard our tango this fortnight is going on until 6pm (usually ends at 4pm) and rueda goes from 6pm - 8pm. ummm what do i do? prob stay on at tango and join them for coffee after as rueda is just too unruly. shame. must get around to phoning the organiser to tell him how we feel. he is very calm and a good teacher. it is really just one woman who just gets so full on! she ends up calling out and telling the caller what to do! and my partner says this woman would not let him lead her in the setenta and just kept "strong arming" him and kept overriding the caller and re-calling setenta over and over and kept on over-ruling his lead. :twisted: he says he did what he did the same move the way he always does it with another experienced follow and she said he did it fine. :?

really must phone the organiser and just let him know. it has really put us off and most of the ppl (esp the men) are really lovely, gentle, fun ppl to dance with.

will ask more questions re other moves as they come up.
thanks again :)



We have 2 "setentas" but there could be more.
"setenta" & "setentanta complicada".
The thing is I have forgotten what the "setenta complicada" is like. But because I can go to every class (good to master leading) from beginners to advanced it will eventuallly come around again.
Our classes have changed to do more rueda.

I must put up a list of moves we do. It would be interesting to see what move names are universal.


actually I just remembered there are other setentas.
There is "setenta y dos" also. I can't remember how it goes though.

[angelbaby]

went to salsa last nite. lots of the rueda group there as usual. organiser of rueda said to us he had "missed" us last wk (as we left early when it got too much) so i told him how we really enjoyed his calm teaching approach but not the shrill harpies that take over. glad i cld give him feedback and he was cool with it. just said that that was what N**** was like (ie harpie #1). noticed too that other rueda ppl were very welcoming and understanding (guess we not the only ones who find it a bit too full on at class). ended the nite doing a social rueda together and it was good (thanks for the setenta tips :wink: ). also found out no rueda this wk as they are off to performance so that means we can tango to our hearts content and try rueda again the following wk.

and yes there are a number of setentas - as there are a number of many of the other steps.

cheers