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Salsa, Rueda & Footloose Innovations ~ Events, Classes, Performances
Carolina offers classes in partner salsa dancing & "Rueda de Casino" (wheel) (See Current Class Schedule).
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What is 'Rueda de Casino'? "Rueda" means "Wheel" and refers to a Cuban style of salsa danced in groups of 4-20+ people in a continuous wheel of dynamic motion with exciting synchronized & coordinated moves, clapping, stylish rhythmic punctuations, vocalizations, seamless changing of partners, changing formations and an exhilirating flow as the circle takes on a life of it's own.
(See: Current Class Schedule)
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What's New? (Join our Mailing List)
OUT AND ABOUT IN MARIN: Join us at SAUSALITO SEAHORSE Sunday afternoons 4pm-9pm (Beginner Lesson @ 4pm w/ Lisa and/or myself), Great bands (circulates between Fito Reynoso y su Harmonia, Edgardo Cambon y Candela, Mazacote, Julio Bravo & Tito y Su Son Cubano.) Good food, great ambiance & friendly people and great dancers.
HAPPENINGS WIDER BAY AREA Check Salsa Power for Bay Area-wide happenings 
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FOOTLOOSE CLASSES
We're focusing on several elements that characterize 'Casino' Style (as illustrated in this pattern - R.): walking turn on 123 (as opposed to ballroom spin 567); always traveling in a clockwise circular motion around the lead unless/until stopped or redirected; and finding the "sweet spot" ~ proper distance & directional opposition from your partner for the correct tension. Plus incorporation of the wonderful 'Copa' from ballroom style. We love fusion! MUSICALITY CLASS & Jam Session! We are hosting a Latin music jam and learning session with the amazing Rick Pruett, who also drums for classes. We each get to master various rhythmic elements of Salsa & Timba (Son Montuno, Bass, Clave, Tumbao, Palitos & Bell Pattern, Guiro etc.) on many different instruments. If you are a musician, or a dancer who wants to increase your musical savvy & want to join us, let me know! L: Classes and Rueda de Casino at the Sausalito Seahorse!
Right: with Ousmane ~ Practicing 2 new moves we made up, we're calling 'Maria Mareada' & 'Pas D'Ousmane'. Left Below: Sabor de Peru with Jorge R.Bottom - 'Coca-Cola' move with head-roll (at 30 seconds +). Below: just dancin'! |
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WARNING!!: This is NOT ballroom salsa. It is funkier, more earthy, more "street", retains it's African roots, engages torso and shoulders more, has a completely different directional and more oppositional dynamic, and is flavored by historical dances of Cuba. It is rooted in the compelling rhythms & sounds of "TIMBA" music which shares parentage with "New Yorican" salsa music (the more traditional salsa music we may be more accustomed to hearing - the result of Cuban, Puerto Rican fusion in NY in the 60's), but is not NY salsa music perse. Timba is a very elegant & innovative fusion of polyrhythmic call-and-response Afro-Cuban sounds with a little funk, jazz, hip hop and rock & roll rolled into it, with a hard driving sound. Come get swept away by the pulse of this contagious form and open up a new world of styling, choreography & connection with the rhythm, the music and your fellow dancers. By the way, everything you learn in the wheel/circle format, is transferable to partner dancing, and everything you learn about cuban style, is applicable to other types of salsa. It all can and will be used in your favor out there on the dance floor!
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La Makina - "Pretzel" move!
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Above - Smooth lead by Alberto, Ballroomish
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Rueda @ 1830 Club in Havana ~ every Sunday.
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