Is learning Casino Rueda good or bad for the beginner?

[peachexploration]

When I first started started salsa classes two years ago, I started in Casino Rueda. By the time I got to level four, I would hear things like "follow my lead", and "move or turn from your center" from the instructor. So, my classmates (followers) and I are standing there like "what the heck is he talking about". Guys would start to say things like "let me lead" before we even started to dance. (Although, they had no idea what that meant, just mimicking the teacher :?) So, I make it to level seven and find that the followers were "leading" the leaders. Why was this happening? It's because Rueda is focus more on moves. Hence the caller calls them out and the group executes them. In my opinion, it's really not good for beginniners. I recommend learning good technique in one on one classes, then go on to casino rueda. Any other thoughts?

[salsachinita]

I get a lot of beggineers asking me the same question as well, but the question I generally get asked is: "Should I start with L.A. or Cuban (two main styles in my town...we have zero NYC on2 yet)?"

Eventhough my personal forte is Cuban Casino/Rueda, I've always recommended a salsa (not Ballroom) school with a focus on solid basic techniques & musicality, rather than patterns & fancy tricks. They can always be added later.

As a social dancer, nothing frustrates me more to be lead by someone who is all tricks, but completely off-beat AND give very little regard to his partner's personal style & capability :x. Unfortuantely some schools churn them out by the dozens (while their instructors are fantastic social dancers, their students are often no reflections on themselves, so one really wonders :? ).

[SDsalsaguy]

I think you make a great point salsachinita...go get the best instruction, regardless of style. Now if 90% of your city dances a given style than it probably would be a good idea to go to the best instructor in that style but, otherwise, the quality of instruction matters a lot more than anything else.

[MacMoto]

I'm with you, Peach.

I don't think starting out in Cuban (casino) style is a bad thing in itself, especially in areas where there are lots of Cuban style dancers. A good Cuban style dancer can always take lessons in slot style and make a successful transition (and vice versa).

However, I do not think Rueda -- as opposed to one-on-one Cuban -- is a good tool for teaching salsa, because it doesn't teach you what I regard as the most important element of salsa (and any partner) dancing: lead/follow. In rueda, all moves are called so the follower knows what move to do without waiting for the lead, and the leader expects the follower to do the move without having to lead her. The idea of lead/follow is not an easy thing to get hang of when you first try your hand at partner dancing even when the teacher takes pains to teach it properly. All beginners struggle with it. And if it's not taught as part of the course, you have no chance of ever learning it -- you will end up believing salsa is all about learning as many named moves as possible. :(

[azzey]

I'm with you, Peach.

However, I do not think Rueda -- as opposed to one-on-one Cuban -- is a good tool for teaching salsa, because it doesn't teach you what I regard as the most important element of salsa (and any partner) dancing: lead/follow. In rueda, all moves are called so the follower knows what move to do without waiting for the lead, and the leader expects the follower to do the move without having to lead her.


In my experience of many LA, NY and Cuban Rueda classes there is no difference. You just as many follows trying to back-lead the moves. There is practically no difference between doing Rueda and a turn-pattern class in another style. The quality of teaching is what matters in both and should include lead/follow.

[squirrel]

I'll have to agree to you guys ... sorry azzey, but I think Rueda can be far worse when it comes to teaching bad habits to the dancers...

First of all, girls do backlead... they just do the pattern no matter if led or not! And I was even told at one point to help the lead by doing it myself! Don't see how that could've improved his leading abilities... :)

In Salsa, it is far easier to get girls not to backlead... I try and dance with all my female students and explain them whatever it is that they are doing wrong in my opinion... and tell them to abstain from backleading...!

Just my 2 cents... :)

So I would definitely advise people to start with Salsa!

[esa negrita...]

OK...I'm a bit nervous now. I've started in Rueda after a few nights of clueless social dancing and I really like it, but I'm identifying with so much of what you guys are saying. There are some guys there, I can see exactly where they're leading...very strong. But others...well...i'm just glad there IS a caller because if not, I'd just be lost. Being that I'm in South Florida, Casino is the dominant style and outside of privates (which I'm not ready to invest in yet) Rueda seems to be the preferred teaching style. Do you guys have any suggestions for beating the Rueda lag? Thanks!

[Jones, Nikka]

In my experience of many LA, NY and Cuban Rueda classes there is no difference. You just as many follows trying to back-lead the moves. There is practically no difference between doing Rueda and a turn-pattern class in another style. The quality of teaching is what matters in both and should include lead/follow.

I could not agree more with you, azzey. It is all about how the teacher presents each move. My teacher introduces rueda patterns as if they were any other style, with detailed explanations about lead, follow, timing and rhythm. Sure it helps sometimes that us girls know the moves, but although we can do our part, we can not lead the man into his.

On the positive side, I have noticed that guys who learn rueda are always, but always on rhythm. I asked my teacher about it and he agreed with me: having so many cues (visual, aural and vocal) make it almost impossible for a begginer to fall off rhythm in a rueda.

Also, on the positive side, rueda dancers are a lot more flexible with their moves and their style than NY or LA style dancers.

[LongHairedLeader]

I think Jones, Nikka just hit on an important point here. Whilst there are many reasons that Rueda is a trouble for beginners, it is also a very good excercise in practicing timing.

You know those guys who think they're good, but they're consistently dancing off-beat? Rueda is a great way to highlight this to them, without fear of criticism - when they start the move at a different time to everyone else in the circle, they'll notice quickly that theres something wrong, hopefully making them pay more attention to their social dancing timing...

[sababa]

i must agree that with rueda it's quite easy to stay on-beat. another reason for this is in the music itself. rueda songs are usually more rhythmatic than "ordinary" salsa songs, so it's much easier to hear the beats. but there is a tradeoff - after dancing to a loud jolly-jolly rueda it's pretty hard to catch on to the rhythm of a romantic song.

[salcero2005]

Rueda is a great way to learn the rudiments of salsa, along with a lot of basic moves, in a short amount of time. It's friendly and a good way to transition over to mambo style salsa.

[sarita1011]

First of all, girls do backlead... they just do the pattern no matter if led or not! And I was even told at one point to help the lead by doing it myself! Don't see how that could've improved his leading abilities... :)

I was guilty of this for a long time. While I really like rueda, I found that I was backleading (or trying to backlead) when I danced one-on-one, on1 salsa. It's taken a conscious effort (and a gentle reminder from a couple of nice leaders) not to backlead. Now, even in rueda, if a guy starts leading a different move than what was called, I still follow the move he leads. He'll eventually get that he's not doing the called move.

On the positive side, I have noticed that guys who learn rueda are always, but always on rhythm. I asked my teacher about it and he agreed with me: having so many cues (visual, aural and vocal) make it almost impossible for a begginer to fall off rhythm in a rueda.

Also, on the positive side, rueda dancers are a lot more flexible with their moves and their style than NY or LA style dancers.

I agree with this.

[DeeplyDippy]

I think Rueda is good for beginner leads, not so sure about followers.

Leads learn and repeat a lot of recognised moves - I use a lot of Rueda moves on the floor even now.

Followers - hmmm. I've danced with some of my Rueda circle and realised they can't dance salsa.