Details on Specific Steps For All Levels

Details on Specific Steps For All Levels

Below is a sampling of some basic, intermediate, and advanced moves. Readers interested in more detail on moves should know that I am working on a book that covers hundreds of dance moves. It is titled, “Salsa Dancing & Rueda de Casino Guidebook: Steps, Styling, Technique, Timing & Latin Rhythms—Beginner Through Advanced.” There is information on both Casino steps and L.A. Salsa steps. For information on purchasing the book, visit: https://danceintime.com/guidebook.

Below are some useful videos of Rueda de Casino moves and then a sampling of moves at each level.

  1. youtu.be/z6jqT83-IL0 This is Instructional Cuban Salsa Video Part 1. It explains Basic, Dame, Fly, Besitos, and Enchufla. These are the most basic moves and they are described for “novice” dancers in Section 1.

  2. youtu.be/TTibS0sXZ0E This is Instructional Cuban Salsa Video Part 2. It explains Pelota Con Dos, Pelota Con Quatro, Enchufla con Mambo, Festival de Enchufla, Adios, Uno, Enchufla Doble, Foto, and Dame Dos.

  3. youtu.be/fCDkrIV0ccw This is Instructional Cuban Salsa Video Part 3. It covers Pa’ti Pa’mi, Adios con La Hermana, Kentucky, Pelota Loca , Enchufla con Exhibe, Adios Arriba, Enchufla Arriba, and Candado.


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    BASIC MOVES

    Guapea ("Basic Step”)
    youtu.be/jtRESgDT4IU Guapea (Basic step) footwork
    youtu.be/qFE1AjemJZw Guapea done in partnership
    youtu.be/z6jqT83-IL0 The basic Rueda de Casino steps are explained in this video, starting with Guapea. At the end of the video there’s a group that dances the move in a Rueda circle. So you can see how Guapea and other steps are done by a group as well as with just one partner. A Rueda circle is a group of couples that arrange themselves around the arc of a circle. The leader always stands so that his right shoulder is toward the center of the circle. The follower’s left shoulder is toward the center of the circle.
    Below is a verbal description of Guapea, the basic step, as shown in the videos. During the basic step, the leader’s left hand hold the follower's right hand and their other hands are not held. However, when they rock forward on beat 5, they each hold the other hand up and their hands push gently against each other. Watch the video to see what this looks like. This contact on beat 5 which is released right after the push, helps make partners feel connected when they do the basic step.

  • Beat 1 2 3: Step back and together Note: The foot on the outside of the Rueda circle goes back, away from your partner

  • Beat 5 6 7: Step forward and together Note: The foot on the inside of the Rueda circle goes straight forward for followers and at a slight diagonal forward and to the right for leaders. This is because if both partners step straight forward their feet will hit each other. So the later makes an adjustment and steps at a slight diagonal forward and toward the center of the circle.

In summary, the the leader's “outside foot” is his left and the follower's “outside foot” is her right. The leader's “inside foot” is his right and the follower's “inside foot” is her left.

Dame
youtu.be/z6jqT83-IL0 The move is explained in this video and at the end of the video there’s a group that dances the move in a Rueda circle. Note that the chant in italics, describes the leader's footwork. But after that there is a description of both the leader’s action and the follower's action.
Hereafter, the notation 1 or “Beat 1” in a chart/listing refers to the three beats that start on beat 1. And a 5 in a chart/listing refers to the three beats that start with 5.

  • Beat 1 Dame (called)

  • Beat 5 Forward and turn Leads turn to their right, and by beat 7 they are facing the follower who had been behind them. Followers turn to their left to face the center.

  • Beat 1 Travel to your partner Leaders move left right left to their next partner while ladies stay more or less in place but with a slight diagonal turn to the left.

  • Beat 5 Cross body lead (“CBL”). This is done at the end of nearly all steps in Rueda. The follower steps Left, Right Left and pivots on her right foot (beat 6), so that she walks in a straight line, in front of the leader and moves to his left side. He steps Right Left Right and switches places with her, while also turning to face her.

Then leads resume basic (“Guapea”), by stepping back on their left, leading the followers to step back on their right, and resuming basic hand hold. The leads should bear in mind that they just gently nudge the follower to do the CBL. They do not push her through that movement. After they nudge her forward, they let go. Her momentum carries her, and this was she does’t feel “pushed.”

Dame Otra
This just means to do another Dame and it always comes after an initial Dame is called. “Otra” means “another.”

Fly, High Five, Besitos, And Other Rhythm Steps
youtu.be/z6jqT83-IL0 The move is explained in this video and at the end of the video there’s a group that dances the move in a Rueda circle.
youtu.be/U8PCIvmXH6Y See 0:39 to 0:43 to watch dancers do the step “Fly.” This was done at a Hispanic Heritage Month show for a Prince Georges County Library.
youtu.be/TDPs6DC16zM Watch 1:02 to 1:05 to see Besito in a performance.
There are a number of simple, fun moves just like “Fly” that have some action on beat one, facing the partner "behind" you in the circle. The timing is the same for all of them. Rhythm steps include: High Five (do a high five with the free hand which is the leader's right and follower's left), High Ten (do a high ten but use both hands), Fly, (clap as though killing a Fly), Two Flies (clap on beats one and two), Besitos (an air kiss gesture—without contact—to the person behind you), etc.

  • 1 call High Five

  • 5 Forward, and turn (step forward; leaders right and followers left so they face the person who had been behind them.)

  • 1 Hit, turn around (Do a high five with the person you are facing, and then turn back to face your partner)

  • 5 Forward and together (resume Guapea on beat 5)

To do Fly, each dancer claps their own two hands together on beat one while facing the person who had been dancing behind them in the basic step. To do “Two Flies,” you clap not just on beat one but on both beats one and two. And “Three Flies” has dancers clapping on beats 1, 2, and 3.

Enchufla
youtu.be/z6jqT83-IL0 The move is explained in this video and at the end of the video there’s a group that dances the move in a Rueda circle.

This builds on the step “Dame.” As you progress through increasingly advanced steps, this is often done. Many moves have pieces of previously learned moves, with some new material added.

Dame Dos / Dame Tres
youtu.be/TTibS0sXZ0E You can see Dame/Dame Dos/Dame Dos from 13:35 to 13:45.
Usually a Dame Dos comes directly after a Dame with no basic in between. When Dame Dos is called, leaders leave their Dame partner on 5 6 7 and move to their new partner on 1 2 3. But the new partner is two followers down, moving in the counter clockwise direction (downstream). So for a Dame Dos the leader skips one lady and goes to the lady after that.

If leads count the ladies “downstream” (i.e. in the direction they are moving), they do a Dame to the first lady and then a Dame Dos to pick up the third lady. They have the same amount of time to move to each of these ladies, so this requires big steps to get to the third lady (second partner) in time! It’s fun to do more than one Dame Dos in a row as you can see in the video above—you really have to hustle!

A Dame Tres means the leader is skipping two ladies and picking up the third from him after the initial Dame. So if he counts the ladies downstream before starting Dame/Dame Dos, he would pick up the first lady and then the fourth lady. This generally requires huge steps!
It is perfectly ok to call a Dame Dos or Dame Tres without first doing the Dame. But if Dame is called first, it helps get the momentum needed to complete the move.

Dame Arriba / Dame Dos Con Uno / Dame Dos Con Dos
youtu.be/TDPs6DC16zM (Performance venue: Vis Arts in Rockville)
The steps performed in order are: Uno y Dos, Vacila with a shine (i.e. footwork). Then the couples move into a circle and do Dame, Enchufla doble arriba, Sombrero, Besito (an "air kiss), Echeverria (3 twists), Puente (the "bridge" move), Balsero, Pa’ti pa’mi, Kentucky, Pelota con dos, Adios con la Hermana, Dame, Dame Dos, Dame Arriba (going back to the previous partner), Foto, Beso, Setenta, Enchufla con mambo, Dedo, Adios, and Candado.
Note that the sequence: Dame, Dame Dos, Dame Arriba in this video that is bolded in the above paragraph. This is a common sequence that is action packed!

Dame Arriba means that the leader moves back to the lady he had partnered with previously, moving “upstream” which is in the clockwise direction around the circle. He has to come to the new partner’s left side which is the side farther from him, so this move also requires big steps/fast movement! These moves are most easily understood by watching a video.
Additional examples of moving in the opposite direction from the usual flow are shown in the steps Enchufla Arriba and Adios Arriba (below).

The only difference between Dame Dos con Uno and Dame Dos, is that you are adding one clap to the action. In my group the clap is on beat one but i’ve seen that clap done on other beats like beat from the prior set of 8 beats. If Dame Dos Con Dos is called, you clap twice as you are moving to the new partner. Again, we clap on 1 and 2 but some groups clap on the previous 7 and 8. In these moves, the uno or dos that are in the call after the word “con” are referring to the number of claps. So Dame con uno means do a Dame and clap one time. Dame Dos con Dos means do a Dame Dos and clap twice. Dame con dos means to do a Dame and clap twice. Dame Dos con Uno means to do a Dame Dos and clap twice!

INTERMEDIATE MOVES

Pasaela / Pasaela Al Reves
youtu.be/RvY2WD6P4Sw Watch 1:31 to 1:41 for Paseala al reves. The only piece missing is that this move done by itself would begin 8 beats prior to 1:31 with Enchufla.
To do Pasaela instead of Pasaela al Reves, after the follower is on the leader’s right at 1:35, he would just lead a CBL to end the move.
This step when done by itself begins with 8 beats of Enchufla. Then the lady is brought 360 degrees around the man moving clockwise over the next 12 beats. She moves in front of him after her back rock, moving from his right to his left. She comes behind him moving from his left side to his right side. The last 4 beats are the CBL to end the move.
I have seen Pasaela Al Reves done with the follower simply moving the opposite way all around the circle. But my group does it as follows. For the first 20 beats, we do Pasaela as described above. But then the leader reverses her direction and she moves from his right side back to his left side while she is behind him. The move is then finished with an Enchufla y Quedate.

Uno Y Dos
youtu.be/SWHzOilJzT8 The move is the first move in this video. At the end of the video there is a group demonstrating that move and others in a circle.
youtu.be/TDPs6DC16zM Watch 0:04 to 0:19 to see the move in performance.

Vacila
youtu.be/SWHzOilJzT8 This step is just like Sombrero except you don’t hold hands with your partner. The move is the third one in this video. At the end of the video there is a group demonstrating that move and others in a circle.

Setenta
youtu.be/SWHzOilJzT8 The move is included in this video with instruction on Uno y Dos, Sombrero, Vacila, Beso, Balsero, Balsero y Beso, Dedo, Montana, Dedo Extended, Siete, Siete Moderno, Siete con Coca Cola, Abanico, Setenta, and Sombrero de Manny. At the end of the video there is a group demonstrating those moves in a circle.
youtu.be/TDPs6DC16zM Watch 2:42 to 2:52.

Puente
youtu.be/Y-FxQSPU16w Watch 2:15 to 2:26. This cool move is a cross between a group move and an individual (one couple) move. It involves two couples with the leads making a bridge that the followers go back and forth under. This lovely move is one I use a lot in performances. You can see it in many of the videos that have links in this book!
youtu.be/TDPs6DC16zM Watch 1:12 to 1:24 to see the move in a performance.

Sombrero De Manny
youtu.be/SWHzOilJzT8 Sombrero de Manny is the last move taught on this video. At the end of the video there is a group demonstrating those moves in a circle.

Dedo Extended
youtu.be/SWHzOilJzT8 The move is included in this video with instruction on Uno y Dos, Sombrero, Vacila, Beso, Balsero, Balsero y Beso, Dedo, Montana, Dedo Extended, Siete, Siete Moderno, Siete con Coca Cola, Abanico, Setenta, and Sombrero de Manny. At the end of the video there is a group demonstrating those moves in a circle.
This move is just Dedo blended with Montana. That means you don’t do a basic step between the two moves. You start Montana on beat 1 right after ending Dedo.
This begins "one-handed" in a cross hand-hold. For Montana you are two handed in a cross hand-hold. Below is the chant in case that is helpful to readers.

Enchufla Con Bikini
youtu.be/fku5P6H5okk See 3:21 to 4:08 This was a video review of moves that I taught at a Miami Salsa Congress.

Variations/Styling Options
If the ladies move enough to their left while they grapevine and turn, the guys can make this move a Dame Tres (rather than a Dame Dos). This provides a greater degree of movement and action.
In truth, i’ve seen many patterns for the ladies’ movement in this step so groups may want to make up their own!

La Jenny
youtu.be/vkR0QK20hOY This video shows the entire move.

La Rubenada
youtu.be/e1aiku30dn0 At about 0:42 in this video, the partners do what I call “the funky turn.” I call it this because initially the leader’s left arm is hammer-locked behind him (the leader is the lady in the red top) and the follower’s right arm is hammer-locked behind her. But after the funky turn, it’s the other way around. That is, the leader’s right arm is then hammer-locked and the follower’s left arm is hammer-locked. So the turn switches which arm is hammer-locked for both of them. This turn is led by the leader’s right arm and his footwork during the turn is a rondee. That means his right foot goes behind his left foot and he turns without lifting either foot off the floor. In this video, the follower, is slightly off balance as she turns. The lead may have been a little abrupt to cause this. But in any case, practice makes this unusual turn less awkward. Note also that they are turning in opposite directions. This is an advanced but pretty standard move. By that, I mean it’s not unusual to hear it called in intermediate level Rueda.

ADVANCED

Beso Complicado With Straight Jacket
youtu.be/1Wa3449GRrk
This is the move Beso with the usual “Complicate" sequence added on to the ending. It can be done with or without the “straight jacket” component. (That is described elsewhere in this book.)
If you are doing Beso Complicate without the Straight Jacket ending, you end that about he same way that Uno Complicate ends. So go to 0:13 in the above video. Then in this video, youtu.be/RvY2WD6P4Sw pick up the ending of Beso Complicado at 1:57 in this video and go to 2:04. Then just end with Dile Que No.
This ending of both Beso Complicate and Uno Complicate is also done in Sombrero de Regnier and other moves. It is referred to as “Complicate” and it can be done with or without the “Straight Jacket” maneuver.

Balsero Extended
youtu.be/RvY2WD6P4Sw 1:15 to 1:42
This move starts with the first 16 beats of Balsero, then a short piece of Sombrero Doble, and most of a back to back Dedo, followed by Paseala al Reves. This move was inspired by a sequence in a NYC Rueda class taught by Chris Rogicki.

Kentucky Complicado

youtu.be/s-E0ZmW6-EAb See 17:42 to 18:06 This shows Kentucky Complicado from 1:04 to 1:25 in a Danceintime show at the Kennedy Center. I like this video of the move best because it shows a hook and unhook action around 17:52. Over time in doing the move, we stopped doing the first hook since it is not essential to the move. But it has a nice look!!

Bebe
youtu.be/eaad-AVKmaE
This is a long move that combines pieces of a number of other Rueda steps. They are in order: Balsero y beso; Exhibe; reverse Balsero but both hands go overhead as she comes around; back to back turn, then end with Abanico. The ending of Abanico is where the leader turns the girl while walking around her and then turns himself. Note that many people find the step Abanico to have an unfinished feeling. If you promptly go on to other moves, that uncomfortable feeling passes quickly.

Siete Loco Complicado

youtu.be/s-E0ZmW6-EA See 13:18 -14:42 to watch the move walked through.  Watch 2 couples dance the move at 15:18 to 15:48
This move begins with Siete Loco and ends with Setenta Nuevo.
This video from a Kennedy Center show has on couple walking the move through. Then two couples dance this move in a Rueda. But interestingly, each leader does it a little differently so in the latter half of the move, I face the inside of the circle and the other leader faces the outside of the circle at one point! I teach the move the way I do it in this video. (I’m the female leader.). We didn’t realize that we were doing the move differently until seeing the video! But you can see both approaches work perfectly well. This is a good example of a move being done different ways--both of which work just fine.  So leaders can choose which approach they prefer!

Thalia

youtu.be/GREIyDzSur4 Watch 0:38 to the end. The final segment of the Dile Que No is cut off and the initial Enchufla isn’t shown, but you can see the body of the move.  

https://www.facebook.com/nalers/videos/1806364171513/?t=81 Watch from 0:07 to 0:26.  The move is easy to grasp in this video because it’s done to music at a slow tempo. This was an Indian themed event, and DIT was asked to do some kind of fusion on Indian and Latin dancing.  We did Rueda moves to Indian music which worked out nicely.  And you can clearly see the action in the moves at this speed!

youtu.be/3p356ZIobI4  This video starts with the front row (3 couples) doing Clasico with the camera as the “center.” The back 3 couples are doing Carnaval Extended with the back of the stage as their center. Then all six couples do Thalia together starting about 0:30 with the front of the stage as their center.  Note that because the choreography involves the blending of moves, it doesn’t show the move as starting with Enchufla.  

  • 1 starts with Enchufla

  • 5 QQS

  • 1 guys rock in

  • 5 bring her around tap

  • 1 turn turn turn

  • 5 back rock Enchufla

  • 1 back rock Enchufla

  • 5 bring her to your side

  • 1 flare her back (begin essentially a basic with a flare on 1)

  • 5 bring her forward (finish the basic)

  • 1 flare her back

  • 5 CBL tap (guys hold arms near their body--don't extent them,so lady stays close)

  • 1 turn her once tap (She taps facing circle)

  • 5 turn her twice tap (she taps on other foot facing circle)

  • 1 turn with both hands (both hands over her head)

  • 5 QQS

  • 1 guy rocks in

  • 5 CBL

El Sabor (Also called Ponle Sabor)

youtu.be/s-E0ZmW6-EA See 16:30 to 16:49 performed in at a Kennedy Center show.  There are also some nice styling options for this move noted in the Chapter on Styling.

Dedo Saboreado

youtu.be/jzn4ZS6BnBY This move starts like Dedo and ends like El Sabor 

Calvo

This is a move I learned on a visit to Cuba. The name means “bald.” youtu.be/WH7_HFX4nf4 This move is from 1:05 to 1:59. Though this is a short move, it requires fast movement and good technique to do in the proper timing. I’m teaching it in the video at a Rueda Exchange workshop in NY.

  • 1 Do a prep

  • 5 Turn the girl (R turn w hammer-lock)

  • 1 Back rock Enchufla

  • 5 Left then right

  • 1 Back rock Enchufla

  • 5 Right then left

  • 1 2-handed Enchufla

  • 5 Face the center

  • Exhibe

  • Exhibe

  • 1 Guy rocks in

  • 5 CBL

Instructional Videos

Instructional Videos

This page has many videos of beginner, intermediate and advanced moves.  They’re very helpful for recalling the steps!.  

Cuban Moves for One-on-One Dancing

Cuban moves can be danced by two people in partnership, as well as in Rueda circles comprised of multiple couples.  This page addresses how to use the moves you learn in both contexts!

Syllabus of Moves

Dance steps are listed in order of difficulty on this page, along with a short explanation of each to jog your memory of which step has which name.

Salsa Styling

Read about many ideas for embellishing and adding flair to your dance moves!  Then choose what feels natural to you and forge your own signature style!

Blending Moves

Salsa moves can be combined into one long sequence without going back to basic.   This can be done either by doing full moves back to back, or by cutting off the ending of the first move before starting the next move.  This is a powerful tool for creating beautiful, long and impressive looking choreographies—and a lot of nice blends are described.

Tips for Rueda Moves

Check out DanceInTime’s tips for making the moves flow smoothly and feel comfortable to your partner. These techniques also help you stay on beat while doing complex moves to fast music.

Steps for Other Dances

Information on basic steps in other dances: L. A. style Salsa, Cha cha, Foxtrot, and Swing.  (A few simple Foxtrot wedding choreographies are described for those preparing a first dance.)

Instructional Chants

For students learning Cuban Salsa moves, this is a helpful “sing song” instruction on how to execute each move.

Types of Salsa

There are several types of Salsa with slight differences between them which are explained.

Dance Quizzes

Some fun quizzes enable you to test your Salsa knowledge.  There is a quiz for beginners, intermediate and advanced dancers and you can click on a link to see the answers...