Rueda combinations that work

One can call a lot of moves in rueda but there are certain combinations that work well. When talking of working well I mean in terms of the feeling that people get when doing the sequence of moves. They fit together. This only comes through trial or error, or from getting these from someone else. Blending moves is one way this can be achieved (see my post on January 9 on keeping the flow in casino) , or calling a complicated combination such as bebe. However, this does not need to be the case as a good caller can use simple moves sequenced together in the right combination can achieve the same effect.

Combos that work well when called:
1. adios - dame arriba, another almost as good variation is enchufe arriba-dame
2. hecho/hecho des hecho /dedo /evelyn - puente or por atras/paseala - vacilala/vacilala dame una/ siete con coca cola / siete moderno
3. treinti treis - ocho - para adelante, from guapea one can call cero and then start combo after that
4.cadaneta - cubanito (is a blended combo)
5.enchufe y no llegas - abajo - exhibela - dile que no/dame

Choosing a song to demo casino rueda

So what goes into a song choice:

1. Does it appeal to dancers/choreographer/audience?

2. What are the dynamics of song like and what are we looking for?
- tempo variations and average tempo?
- rhythms played - salsa/reggaeton/merengue/son montuno, guajira, charanga, timba....
- breaks in the song, what is the intro like, the ending
- are there natural places in the song where we can change orientation and/or types of moves being done
- does the song match the level of the dancers - eg Agua by the group Los Van Van is a high energy fast paced song without much variation in tempo. It requires people who can match that energy, and not everyone can do so.

3. Are the lyrics relevant?

I spent a lot of time on this recently and finally tonight our group - Ithakeros - danced to several song suggestions and chose Los Compeones de la Salsa by Willy Chirino.

Dance is trust. Without trust there is no dance.

Religious Freedom!

January 16th is Religious Freedom Day in the States. On that day I wrote a little something in honor of it, and only just realized that it never got on here. So here goes sharing it a little late...

The bogey E man?

Watch out!

Here the bogey E man comes

In broad daylight!

“Hey”, he says!

“I want what’s best.

Just do this and this and that

Then you will be in and not out

You’ll belong -

Be part of the Bounded set.

You cheer the Red Sox - me the New York Mets

Belonging to groups we all

are inside looking out, Or

outside looking in.

Join my inside track.”

Then, tell Mr Bogey E Man

“No, let’s break the bonds - the barriers of Bonded Sets

Then we all are part of the Centered set.

It doesn’t matter if it is the Red Sox, Orioles or New York Mets

All teams strive to reach the center, be the champs

There is no IN or OUT

Some are closer, some further

It may take some longer

But, everyone is moving along the way."

So, one and all let's try and be open in our life's journey. We ALL are members of the centered set.

Teaching Dance - Ballroom frame and the Rueda Basic

I always say that you really don't know it until you can teach someone how to do it. There is learning that can only come from teaching. In the past couple months I've started helping teach ballroom and rueda and it has been a great experience.

In ballroom it is an introductory survey class of over 50 students with 5 dances - waltz,foxtrot,tango, rumba and cha cha - covered in 10/12 weeks. With the emphasis on fun it is interesting to see how "frame" is learned. There is no substitute to feeling what a right and wrong frame is and the best way to do so is working with someone who knows that feeling. So, every time I get a chance to work with anyone I sneak in "let's look at frame".

In casino rueda there are many variations on the basic. The one that is safest to teach is where the leader places his palm flat against the followers palm on the second half of the basic. If the correct handhold is used where the leader pulls and then pushes the follower, so his right hand is clasping her palm it is easy for the lady to get her hand hurt. Sometimes people say oh rueda looks/feels boring. There is a reason why. A lot of people aren't being taught the elements that make it a really dynamic breathing (in/out open/close) circle. And for good reason. Learning that correct handhold and moving well takes time.

In all dance styles most students desire to keep on learning move after move. It is few who both realize the important basic/core elements and do the work to get those right.

A couple phrases to ponder

Music is the silence between notes. Dance is found between the steps. Silence and stillness is just as important as music and motion.

Many people talk so much about stepping on certain counts of the music, and about moving, and somehow what is between each note and movement is lost in the shuffle. When you can pay as much attention to both, that's when you dance.

Seasonal Greetings!

Posted a little late, after writing it on facebook, but it's finally here:

Bubbling springs gurgling
Sap of joy shooting arms
Reachin to sky's warm slate
Green despite-
Winter's winds bluster
...
Here's wishing all of us to be like the evergreen this Christmas season. The same joie de vivre - vitality - through x'mas, dec 31st, and through the 365 days of next year!