Rueda de Casino is a vibrant and energetic group dance style that originated in Cuba. It involves a circle of dancers, typically consisting of an equal number of couples. The dance is characterised by a series of intricate patterns and figures that are called out in Spanish by a caller, sometimes indicated with a hand signal as well - great in busy, noisy social dance floors!
The couples must quickly adapt to the caller's commands, changing partners and formations in a dynamic and exciting way. Rueda de Casino is not only a physical challenge but also a social experience, a fun form of teamwork for social dancers.
At Dance on Newy, we love Rueda de Casino, and it's often used in our Intermediate class as a way to teach and practice our combinations with a variety of partners. We also love to bring Rueda to the social dance floor, and when a caller wants to start a Rueda, they'll look for dancers to join, and often indicate 'Rueda' by moving their index finger in a circle near their head, like a lasoo.
If you see this happening at a social dance, and you'd like to join and practice, make sure you remember your social Rueda etiquette:
Observe: Watch the dance, assess energy and skill level of the dancers, and gauge if you (& your partner) feel comfortable joining
Approach: Identify the caller, make eye contact, and politely ask to join. Ideally only do this while the Rueda is still forming. If it's started, wait for a break, or look for Al Centro or Guapea as times when you could possibly join.
Learn: Listen, observe, Pay attention to the steps and calls carefully, and ask others if you don't hear or understand a call.
In Rueda de Casino, there is a formation called Cantantes y Oyentes, where alternating couples work in alternating combinations, creating a beautiful effect of dancers weaving between each other and dancing on different beats simultaneously. Alternating couples are designated as either Cantantes or Oyentes; the caller & their partner being the first Cantante couple.
In our lesson last night, the Cantantes began Guapea on the count of 1, while the Oyentes joined in on the count of 5. This created a rhythmic and synchronised pattern within the circle. As the dance progressed, Luisa called out combinations beginning with Cantantes or Oyentes, to indicate which couples should execute the combination; for example, we did Dame, so it was called as "Cantantes Dame!" when it was the Cantantes turn. Dame looks like Dame Dos in this formation as Cantantes only rotate with Cantantes couples.
Any regular Casino combination can be called! If the caller wants all couples to execute the combination, the may start the call with Todos, meaning all or everyone. In this case, the Cantantes would go first, beginning on the next 1, and the Oyentes would follow, beginning the combination on 5, unless the caller indicates otherwise.
Cantantes y Oyentes creates a constant flow of energy and excitement, and requires full attention and co-operation of all the dancers. And that's why we love it, so be ready to see it again soon!
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