The Rueda Experience...... by: Ana Botta
The song starts. There are 10 couples forming a perfect circle, with a very demanding instructor in the center. Suddenly a loud, powerful voice screams, "Pa’ el Medio!" (to the center!). The group reacts simultaneously, and suddenly all the couples are swaying in and out of the circle in perfect sync. The voice screams again "Pa’ Abajo!"(this one is harder to translate - but basically it means "to the basic"!), The group reacts again, this time dancing the basic Salsa step. In a flash, the voice says "Damela!" (give her to me!) and in perfect unison, everyone changes partners.
This is the beginning of a Rueda, the most exhilarating form of Salsa dancing (in my opinion, of course). Some people call it " Cuban Square Dancing", others simply call it "Casino". In reality it is both - "Casino" coming from the fact that it started in Cuba, at a club called "El Casino Deportivo" where some of the regulars developed a "structured" form of dancing Salsa. As the times progressed some additional influences (such as "disco") have affected the dance, however today’s Rueda’s are quite similar to those of 50 years ago. "Cuban Square Dancing" comes from the fact that it involves couples exchanging partners. But, if you’ve ever witnessed one, that is the only similarity!
On any given night you can see this intricate dance being practiced here in Miami at SalsaLovers Dance Studio. There are about 200 students in one room, all dancing Rueda. All of them hooked on Salsa. From the moment you take the first class, it seems that the music stirs something inside of you that is just simply uncontrollable. You just have to back a second time. From then on you find yourself attending every class possible! It requires a combination of skills – rhythm, athleticism, and most notably concentration, along with the ability to adapt to people’s different dancing styles. Even more addictive is Rueda, where you actually get to dance with different people all within the span of one song. You just can’t get enough!
I believe the resurgence of Salsa, and by extension, Rueda is due to a couple of reasons - 1) People are tired of going to clubs just to "get picked up". This type of behavior has gotten old, and everyone is starting to go out just to have a good time. They’ve discovered that through Salsa you can meet many different people who are all there for the same reason - to dance. 2) Dancing Salsa is a way of "connecting" with someone - physically and mentally. When you dance with a partner you both have to be in sync with each other - and this creates a bond. In Rueda, it extends to the entire group.
There are a few critics who say that Casino/Rueda is too structured, and that those who dance it have no individuality and all look the same. I believe that dancing comes from the soul, and that every single person who truly feels the music in them expresses it differently, even if they are doing the same steps. For anyone who has never tried dancing in a Rueda and decides to try it will have a very rewarding experience, and will definitely be back for more.