SALSA IN WASHINGTON DC

Syllabus of Casino Rueda Steps

This is a listing of Rueda steps organized by level by difficulty. This is the syllabus from the D.C. area Casino Rueda group, DanceInTime.

Moves are hard to describe in words. So please note that the listing below is not intended to be a complete, detailed description of the moves. Rather, these short descriptions are meant principally to identify which move is which and organize the material into levels of complexity for students.

Like most groups, DanceInTime does many steps which we then blend, alter, and play with. We make up new ones (sometimes naming them after the creator), blend new moves with older ones, and gang many moves together into one long sequence, etc. So the steps here are certainly not all the ones we have done. Still, this is a good representation of the majority of moves.

In April 2006, we had a workshop presented in class by Erin Brandt on "Play in Salsa." Erin addressed ways to embellish moves and interact playfully with a partner. It inspired us to make a number of new creations like Dame with Kiss (you turn and kiss the lady to the right of the one you "damed" to), and Dame con Vuelta with Kicks (instead of rocking in for guys and back for ladies, both do a small kick, then a step and then a tap on beats 1, 2, and 3). Her workshop produced a variety of ideas for embellishments and extensions of moves. Some are listed below. (You can find info on Erin's workshop with some videos of her teaching at this link: http://danceintime.com/casinomoves.htm#playinsalsa)

My point is that every group has a fairly unique syllabus, though typically certain classic steps are common to them all---such as Dame, Enchufla, Sombrero, etc. This variance from group to group is a great thing. There is nothing more enjoyable than comparing moves, learning new twists on moves that you have done for years, and seeing clever steps that other groups made up, and learning new and beautiful moves.

So below is a syllabus for DanceInTime. A sampling of the moves are explained and/or walked through on video. You can watch these by clicking on the appropriate links below. And there are many more videos at this link: http://danceintime.com/instructionalvideos.htm. So....enjoy!!

Barb Bernstein, Casino de Rueda Teacher
DanceInTime.com
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Level One:

Guapea (Basic Step) Rhythm is Quick, Quick, Slow. Leaders go back on left and forward on right; followers go back on right and forward on left.
Basic Step -- Part 1
Basic Step -- Part 2
Basic Step -- Part 3
Dame Una- Guys travel to new partner, moving counter-clockwise on beats 1, 2, and 3, and do Cross Body Lead (CBL) on beats 5, 6, and 7 to resume basic step.
Dame Una -- Part 1
Dame Una -- Part 2
Dame Una -- Part 3
Dame Una -- Part 4
Dame Con Vuelta---Same as Dame Una but leaders and followers both turn on beats 5, 6, and 7 before guys move to next partner. (Guys turn left and ladies turn right.)
"Rhythm Steps"---
1. Fly--Guys turn right and ladies turn left. Clap facing the person behind you
on beat 1 (or for "2 Flies" on beats 1 and 2).
2. Besitos---Guys turn right and ladies turn left. "Air kiss" the person behind you on
beat 1.
3. High 5,10---Guys turn right and ladies turn left. Do a high 5 or 10 on beat 1 with
person behind you.
4. Low Ball---Guys turn right and ladies turn left. Clap low on beat 1 facing the person
behind you.
5. Suena---Stomp on beat 5.
6. Bulla---Shout on beat 5.
7. Bulla Doble--Shout on beats 5 and 6.
8. Suena y Bulla (also called Suena con Bulla)--Stomp and shout on beat 5.
Enchufla---Underarm turn on beats 1, 2, and 3. Then guys travel to next partner on the following beats 1, 2, and 3; and do the CBL on beats 5, 6, 7 to resume basic.
Enchufla for Leads--Part 1
Enchufla for Leads--Part 2
Enchufla for Leads--Part 3
Enchufla for Followers--Parts 1
Enchufla for Followers--Parts 2
Enchufla Doble--Start like Enchufla but add 8 beats where guy pushes the lady back under the arm. Then do a regular Enchufla.
Pelotas
     Pelota Con Uno (Dos, Tres, or Quatro)---Do Enchufla and then stomp and clap once each (or twice, 3, or 4 times each respectively) before going to the next partner. These stomps & claps are right on successive beats. (ex. Stomp on 1 and clap on 2 for Pelota Con Uno.)
     Pelota Loca--Do Enchufla then stomp, clap, stomp clap stomp clap clap clap (on beats 1 through 8) before moving to the next partner.
     Pelota Con Clave--Do Enchufla and clap the "clave rhythm" (5 claps) before going to next partner.
Adios---Starts with "back spot turn" (in a ballroom-type hold). Throw lady's arm overhead on beat 7, and then guys go to next partner, moving on beats 1, 2, and 3 as usual. Do CBL on beats 5, 6, and 7 to resume basic.
Adios con la Hermana--Starts like Adios but ends with Enchuflas; there is no partner exchange.
Dame Dos?The same as Dame Una but skip one lady and go to the next.
Dame Dos Con Dos--Same as Dame Dos but also clap on beats 1 and 2 while traveling to next partner.
Dame con los Manos---Group move in which ladies rock back and then do CBLs repeatedly, while guys rock forward and then lead the CBL. Continue this until 8 beats after caller calls Dile que no.
Kentucky---Begin in "cuddle position" as guys move from lady's left to right. Then guys put their right hand near their own left shoulder & turn right, so they end facing the center. Then do CBL to resume basic.
Click here to see Kentucky part 1   part 2
El Uno--Partners go side to side and ladies are in front; everyone does back rocks. End with arms over-head and then CBL to resume basic.
El Dos---Partners go side to side but guys are in front; everyone does back rocks. Step ends with lady coming to guy's left side. She turns, moving to his right side as in sombrero. Then CBL to resume basic.
Uno y Dos---Starts with El Uno. Before finishing Uno, go into El Dos. Do the El Dos step in full.
Festival de Enchufla--3 Enchuflas in a row each with a different partner and no basic step in between.
Festival de Adios--3 Adios steps in a row each with a different partner and no basic step in between.

"Introductory Steps:"
Al medio (lean in and lean out)
Abajo (switch to QQS rhythm; guys alternately forward rock and side rock, while ladies back rock twice)
Exhibe (ladies step toward middle of circle; pivot and turn around)
Exhibe Doble (ladies do two Exhibes)
Dile que no (CBL)

El Zipper--body ripples
Evelin--Starts like Adios; guy brakes the lady's movement, turns himself & leads CBL to resume basic.
Flamenco----Starts like Adios, then guy turns as in Evelin & leads an Exhibe. Then CBL & resume basic
Enchufla Castigula --- Enchufla with a tap the hand (beat 7) and the forehead (beat 8) & travel to partner. These tap symbolize "punishment!"
Principe bueno-- Enchufla with a kiss on the lady's hand on beat 8 before traveling to the next partner.

Level Two:

Siete?Tap on beat 8, then guy rolls the lady in and rolls her out. She rolls in place and unrolls to face him.
Siete Doble?Tap and then both leader and follower roll in and roll out, & end facing each other.
Siete Moderno---Do Siete; then switch which of the lady's hands you hold and both partners turn.
Vacila?Tap & guy leads lady to turn. She turns twice while moving around to his right side. He moves to left as she comes around. Then he leads the CBL to get back into basic.
Vacilense los dos---Like Vacila but the guy also turns (once or twice) while lady turns. He can turn either to his right or left.
Vacila y dame?Like Vacila but at the end, guys "add" a dame una, by moving to a new partner.
Sombrero---Tap and then holding two hands (guy's right over left), lead the same turn as Vacila. Then the guy's and lady's arms come over their heads and end with CBL to resume basic.
Medio Sombrero?Tap, then do Sombrero holding only one hand (guy's right).
Dedo---Tap; hold one hand in a cross hand-hold. Ladies turn, coming to guy's right side. Then step in place for 4 beats. Then do a back-rock & Enchufla and guy does a rondee. Do another back-rock & Enchufla. Then guy leads CBL to resume basic.
Montana---Tap; hold two hands in a cross hand-hold. This is the same as Dedo except that since you are holding two hands, arms are in a "sombrero position" overhead at the end.
Dedo Extended---Do Dedo & go right into Montana with no basic in between. Great combination!
Dame con Sopresa----This is a cool way to Dame: Do Dame Una and add two additional CBLs at the end.
Pa' Ti, Pa' Mi?Three Enchuflas in a row with the same partner. No partner exchange.
Dame Arriba---Dame but move clockwise to the "upstream" or previous partner. To do this, guys need to face that direction on beat 7 before they start traveling on beat 1. Come to lady's left side as usual, facing the center before doing the CBL. This requires fast movement!
Enchufla Arriba?Enchufla, but do Dame arriba (instead of Dame una) at the end. (See above.)
Sententa Tap step. Break lady's arm and she turns to her right in 8 beats. Then guy side-rocks while lady back-rocks, and then she unwinds. Ends with CBL to resume basic. Note this is a straight hand-hold.
Candado?Do 2 Enchuflas while holding both hands. Then guy does a "Kentucky-like" turn and marches clockwise around the circle with the lady behind him, holding hands at the shoulders. Then guys turn when Arriba is called. Guys move to next lady when Taro is called. End with Dile que no (CBL).
Candado Pa Ti?Do Candado but end the step like Pa Ti Pa Mi.
Candado Sencillo---Candado but end the step with a Kentucky turn and face the center. Then do CBL.
Enchufla Con Vuelta or Festival de Enchufla Con Vuelta---Do Enchufla or Festival de Enchufla, but whenever the guy moves to his next partner, he turns to the left while traveling.
Adios Con Vuelta or Festival de Adios Con Vuelta?Do Adios or Festival de Adios, but whenever the guy moves to his next partner, he turns to the left while traveling.
Izgueirda?Begins with an outside turn on beat 5. Then do enchufla.
Festival de Enchufla New York?Do Enchufla, then Enchufla doble then Pa ti pa mi but cut the latter step short so you can move to a new partner. Each of these is done w/ a new partner & no basic in between.
Casate?Starts with Enchufla. Bring the lady behind you and walk arm in arm. Then when "Arriba" is called, roll her in front of you, facing you. Partners then walk counter-clockwise. Then you can do Taro where guys go to next partner (or Taro de Mentira where they start to go & come back). End w/ Dile que no.
Dame Con Las Manos with Turns?Do this step but then turn ladies in & out of circle after La Tranca is called. Guys also turn after Hombres is called, alternating w/ the ladies. Step ends with Enchufla
Enchufla al medio con dos?Starts with Enchufla; then guys go into circle and around to the right of their partner. Then guys and gals alternate stepping into the circle. You can do La Flor where arms are raised when coming out of circle or 11/22/33 where guys move to right and ladies to left 1(or 2, or 3) times each. You can do cero or ocho where you walk making that figure around others, & end step with Dile que no.
Con Coca-ColaTurns---A nice step in which both partners turn; this is often used as an embellishment at the end of other steps. After turning, this ends with a CBL.
Caminala---"Pat a cake" step. Called on beat 1 and ended with Dile que no also called on beat 1. You alternately face the partner "behind you" and clap their hands, and then clap with your partner. Clapping your own hands in between is also sometimes done in this step.
Dame Con Vuelta with Kicks---Guys turn left and ladies turn right on beats 5, 6, and 7. Then both men and women kick, step, and tap, before doing the CBL.
Maria Vince--In position for Guapea, drop (bend knees) on 3, roll shoulders to left and then right on beats 5 and 7 respectively.

Level 3

Balsero -Tap step w/ two-handed cross hand-hold. Lady goes in front of the guy and to his right; then moves behind him to his left side. Then she comes in front of him, turning like Sombrero to end the step. Guys and gals change places several times in this step.
Beso?Tap step & two-handed cross hand-hold. Lady goes around to guy's right and behind him to his left. Guy leaves his right arm down as she comes around, turns toward her and does an alarde over her head with an "air kiss" on beat 3 when she is on his left side.
Balsero y Beso-- Tap step w/ two-handed cross hand-hold. Start w/ first 8 beats of Balsero and then do the entire Beso step. This is a very nice combination step.
Abrazala--Tap step w/ one-handed cross hand-hold. Starts like Beso but hold only one hand. Guys do an arm "chop" with the left arm on beat three, symbolizing a hug since it goes behind the lady's back. This replaces the "air kiss" in Beso.
Cadeneta?Group move that starts w/ Enchufla but man leads with right hand, then rondees 540 degrees (a turn and a half). He then back-rocks himself and the lady, and then turns her. She passes him as she moves clockwise around the circle. He continues to back-rock and turn successive partners while he moves counter-clockwise around the circle. After the turn he alternately "breaks" his arm and then hers. The step ends 8 beats after Dile que no is called.
Abanico?Starts like the first 8 beats of Sombrero, but then guy turns the lady to the right in 4 beats and turns himself to the right in 4 beats as he moves in a semicircle, coming to the lady's right side to end the step and resume basic.
Juana la Mexicana---Starts like Sombrero and ends like El uno.
Sombrero Doble?Starts like Sombrero, then do a CBL to get lady on the guy's left. They do a "Sombrero on the other side." Tap and go back to back. Drape to the shoulder; end w/ CBL. Click here to see Sombrero Doble
Dedo Guarapo y Bota?Starts like Dedo and then guy turns and holds the lady around her waist. They turn around for 8 beats and he moves to the next partner.
Puente?Starts like Enchufla, but guys lead w/ their right hand. Make a bridge with the leader next to you and ladies swing under the bridge, back and forth. They come through with a turn the second time they go under. Then guys dame to the lady who was the partner of the leader they made a bridge with. This step is done in pairs of couples. If there are an odd number of couples, the last 3 couples form a bridge together & dame like a small circle.
Bachata---To Salsa music, dancers step only on 1, 3, and 5. The hip comes up (or a tap is done) on 7. This mimics Bachata, and dancers move to the guy's left, then walk in towards the center arm in arm, then step forward and back and finally move out with ladies turning and back to the circumference with another turn.
Dedo Puente?Start like Dedo but skip the last 8 beats. From there, go directly into forming a bridge and do the entire Puente step. This make a wonderful "combination step."
Pasea?You begin with Enchufla and then lady moves from the man's right side to his left going   in front of him. Then she moves from his left side to his right going behind him. End with   CBL to resume basic. Arms always stay down at waist level in this step. This can be an add-on step (like coca cola turns) or a step in itself.
Pasea Arriba?Same as Pasea but the guy brings his leading arm up over his head.
Pasea y Complicate?Start with Pasea and then begin doing Pasea Arriba. But as lady comes around, you take her other hand and bring her around so she is facing the guy and off to his right side. Then tap & do back to back turn, so guy faces out of the circle. He does an alarde over her head. Bring the lady around into a Sombrero position. End with CBL.
Vacila Entrada?Do Vacila and then guys come in towards the center and move back to their right, around their partner. Ladies also go in towards the center and come back to their right, around the right side of their partner. Guys "pick up" the ladies, doing CBL to end step.
Siete Loco---Starts like Siete. Ladies turn to their right facing outside the circle and tap, then guy takes her left hand over her shoulder and leads her to turn left moving around him. She comes in front of him and does 2 exhibes, a drape over his head, and a CBL to end the step.
Sombrero de Manny?This starts like Sombrero. On the next beat one, the guy puts his right   hand near her waist level on her left side. She takes his hand and he turns her around. Then he brings her around him going counter-clockwise from his front to his back. End w/ CBL.
Sombrero de Regnier---Starts w/ first 8 beats of Sombrero. Ends like Pasea y Complicate.
Dedo por debajo?Start with the first 8 beats of Dedo. Then guy goes under his own arm in 4 beats and turns the lady in 4 beats. Then finish the rest of Dedo.
Enroque?Starts like Izguierda. Guy puts hand on lady's left shoulder & turns her 180 degrees to the left. He moves his hand to grasp her right wrist; unwinds her & he turns. Then do Enchufla where guys (only) step on 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, jump on 7, step on 8, stomp on 1, then CBL.
Setenta y Crusate--This begins like Setenta, and then arms go overhead as each partnership walks forward in a circle, then the overhead arms are reversed and the direction of the walk is reversed so both guy and girl walk backwards. Then then switch arms to the first position and walk forward again. Then they do Exhibe and guys rock in and do a CBL.
Zig Zag--Starts with Enchufla and then guys touch in the middle, move out of circle in a straight line while ladies move toward the center and touch hands. Then guys move back and touch hands in the center again and ladies touch one last time. Then guys rock in and do a CBL.

Level 4

The movements on levels 4 and 5 are so long and complex that they will just be listed rather than described.

Setenta Complicado
Uno Complicado
El Sabor
Dedo Loco
Siete Sententa
La Confusion
Havana
Flamenco Caliente
La Sueter Click here to see Sueter Part 1.    Click here to see Sueter Part 2.
Sambuca
Avioneta
Three Way Stop
La Victoria
Dedo Saboreado
Noventa
Straight Jacket
Exhibe con Gancho
Azuquita Click here to see Azuquita Part 1. Click here to see Azuquita Part 2.

Level 5

Thalia
Kentucky Complicado
Siete Loco Complicado
Setenta Nuevo
Puente Complicado
La Jenny
Bebe
Mona Lisa
La Mia
Dedo de Lazarus
Rubenada
El Suave
El Classico
La Cuadra
Lipton
El Sordo
Rumbera
Beso Complicado
Besito Largo   Click here to see Besito Largo
Sombrero de Regnier Doble
Setenta Complicado Derecha y al Reves
La Presa
La Presa Extended
Carnival
Carnival Extended
Carnival Unisex   Click here to see Carnival Unisex.
Carnival Complicado
Sabrosura
Consorte
L. A. de Glen
Setenta Complicado with Back to Back Turn
Rubenada Complicado
Serpiente
Abanico Complicado Complicado (not a mistake)

Questions on any of these very cool moves?? Feel free to contact Barb at BarbBtalks@aol.com.