The PDF document attached to this post is the result of a bit of reflection led while defining my Cuban salsa/Casino teaching programme at intermediate level. It also covers some of the material I teach at intermediate level during a few salsa congresses in the UK.
At beginners level, we usually teach some basic steps and Enchufla/Dile que No/Vuelta, with lots of emphasis on making people feel comfortable, welcome, confident and entertained, and only limited emphasis on technicality. Then, at intermediate level, the question arises: what tools should you give your Cuban salsa students to help them learn the longer routines more efficiently once they reach the higher levels? What is going to help them for the rest of their salsa life?
Through observation and analysis, the following list of 12 moves came up, which cover a large proportion of the 'situations' met in longer routines. Learning them allows to approach Cuban salsa as a foreign language: while beginner's moves are like a basic alphabet, the 12 moves are like the words which would be used to compose longer sentences at higher levels. From the learner's perspective, knowing these moves does help to 'decode' longer routines more efficiently by training the perception of elementary moves in longer routines. From the teacher's perspective, each of the 12 moves is also an occasion to focus on one particular technical skill such as space awareness, leading/following, particular turn techniques etc.
This list of moves is given here as a handout to help Cuban salsa students remembering the classes, but it is also hoped that it will help other teachers defining their own syllabus. This list is probably neither exhaustive nor perfect, and certainly does not aim at defining any rigid truth about Casino. I would actually be highly interested in your feedback and comments (cf instructions below on how to leave a comment on this website). Is that an adequate list? Should other basic moves be added to complete this list of 'Lego blocks' to construct and de-construct Casino moves while teaching or learning Cuban salsa? Please tell us what you think!
The handout can be downloaded from this link: The 12 basic moves of Cuban salsa, PDF handout
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Curriculum of Moves of Salsa Rueda de Casino style We tried to align the moves logistically based on type. That is why you will notice some empty cells because some type of moves are represented in a Beginners 2 class but not in an Intermediate class. For example we aligned all Setenta moves horizontally in the same row of each level. Rueda de Casino Salsa moves in this list are: Abanico, Abanico complicado, Abrazala, Adios prima, Adios y la hermana, Adios con la famalia, Los americanas, Amistad complicate, Atrevido, Avioneta. The Rueda de Casino is a Cuban group dance. It is danced on lively, up-beat, salsa music. Basically, everybody dances as a couple. The couples stand in a circle. During the dance there is a constant changing of partners, which makes it a vivid and joyful spectacle. The Rueda can be danced with a minimum of two couples.
-DJ Sacha
PS: Yielding to popular demand, here are some youtube links. But:
PLEASE NOTE / DISCLAIMER: These videos are only here to give a rough visual impression of the move, which is more effective than a textual description. We do not guarantee that the execution depicted in these videos is standard or even 'correct': that's only whatever we could find on Youtube. Please do consult with a qualified teacher to verify and polish your moves.
1) Enchufla and 2) Dile que No
3) Vuelta a.k.a. Hecho a.k.a. Pimienta
I usually teach these moves as '4 moves for the price of 1': vuelta led with left hand, or led with right hand, or vacilala (no hands) or sombrero (two hands) are essentially the same move with hand variations.
Vuelta a.k.a Pimienta:
Sombrero:
Vuelta Vacilala:
4) Enchufla Ronde (Enchufla y Escondete)
6) Paseala al Frente
6) Sacala / Exhibela
7) Paseala por Abajo y por Atras
8) Adios con la Prima
9) Cubanito, Cubanita, El Uno, El Dos
Cubanito/Cubanita are pre-requisites to El Uno/El Dos:
El Uno:
El Dos: essentially Cubanito followed by a full Sombrero:
10) Enrocate
I usually teach Enrocate as a pre-requisite to a 'safe' Coca-Cola, and to help people to get the directions right:
11) Coca Cola
12) Siete a.k.a. Panque
Part 4 of the guide consists of 3 Chapters which cover those families of moves which, with a few exceptions, can be danced both in Rueda and in partner Salsa (Casino). Poker tournament day 1. The 3 chapters differentiate moves based on the handhold with which they begin.
Rueda De Casino Steps
Curriculum of Moves of Salsa Rueda de Casino style We tried to align the moves logistically based on type. That is why you will notice some empty cells because some type of moves are represented in a Beginners 2 class but not in an Intermediate class. For example we aligned all Setenta moves horizontally in the same row of each level. Rueda de Casino Salsa moves in this list are: Abanico, Abanico complicado, Abrazala, Adios prima, Adios y la hermana, Adios con la famalia, Los americanas, Amistad complicate, Atrevido, Avioneta. The Rueda de Casino is a Cuban group dance. It is danced on lively, up-beat, salsa music. Basically, everybody dances as a couple. The couples stand in a circle. During the dance there is a constant changing of partners, which makes it a vivid and joyful spectacle. The Rueda can be danced with a minimum of two couples.
-DJ Sacha
PS: Yielding to popular demand, here are some youtube links. But:
PLEASE NOTE / DISCLAIMER: These videos are only here to give a rough visual impression of the move, which is more effective than a textual description. We do not guarantee that the execution depicted in these videos is standard or even 'correct': that's only whatever we could find on Youtube. Please do consult with a qualified teacher to verify and polish your moves.
1) Enchufla and 2) Dile que No
3) Vuelta a.k.a. Hecho a.k.a. Pimienta
I usually teach these moves as '4 moves for the price of 1': vuelta led with left hand, or led with right hand, or vacilala (no hands) or sombrero (two hands) are essentially the same move with hand variations.
Vuelta a.k.a Pimienta:
Sombrero:
Vuelta Vacilala:
4) Enchufla Ronde (Enchufla y Escondete)
6) Paseala al Frente
6) Sacala / Exhibela
7) Paseala por Abajo y por Atras
8) Adios con la Prima
9) Cubanito, Cubanita, El Uno, El Dos
Cubanito/Cubanita are pre-requisites to El Uno/El Dos:
El Uno:
El Dos: essentially Cubanito followed by a full Sombrero:
10) Enrocate
I usually teach Enrocate as a pre-requisite to a 'safe' Coca-Cola, and to help people to get the directions right:
11) Coca Cola
12) Siete a.k.a. Panque
Part 4 of the guide consists of 3 Chapters which cover those families of moves which, with a few exceptions, can be danced both in Rueda and in partner Salsa (Casino). Poker tournament day 1. The 3 chapters differentiate moves based on the handhold with which they begin.
Rueda De Casino Steps
There are countless individual Salsa / Casino moves and combinations, which nowadays are well covered by online videos, and so this part of the guide includes only an illustrative selection (although quite a large selection) of the most popular moves used in a Rueda context, and some examples of the many variations in their wider ‘family' e.g variations built around Setenta, Sombrero, or Vacilala.
These pages include notes on additional notes or variations, alternative calls, and any corrections if relevant.
Salsa Rueda De Casino Moves No Deposit
Former posts have now been copied into relevant Chapters to keep things organised, and to avoid too many short posts.
