Salsa, Rueda, and Music Workshops w/ Sidney Weaverling and Ryan Mead
Posted by Ofer on 15 Jul 2008 at 01:09 pm | Tagged as: Instruction
Sorry for taking so long to post this (I am in Israel at the moment). As I mentioned earlier this should be a great opportunity to learn from two of the best instructors in North America.
When :
August 9th & 10th
Location :
Jackson St. Studio 122 S. Jackson St #310, SeattleSchedule:
Saturday, August 9th
- 2:00pm Dancing with and Understanding Clave
- 3:00pm Group Moves for the Rueda
- 4:00pm Athletic and Dynamic Salsa and Rueda
- 5:00pm Sidney’s Salsa Workout
Sunday, August 10th
- 2:00pm Dance on Whatever
- 3:00pm Sid and Ryan’s Favorite Moves
- 4:00pm Dancing the Rhythms of Salsa
- 5:00pm Sidney’s Salsa Workout
The Instructors
Sidney Weaverling is one of the founding members of the currently thriving Cuban-style salsa scene in the San Francisco Bay Area, with more than 10 years of experience as a teacher, performer, and choreographer. Expert in both following and leading, she has studied extensively in both Cuba and Miami, and has given salsa and rueda workshops across the United States and internationally.
Ryan Mead was studying jazz percussion at the New England Conservatory when he took his first trip to Cuba. He became an avid student of Cuban music and dance, making several trips to Cuba (most recently on a grant from Stanford). His greatest strength as a dancer and instructor is his musicality; he has created a vocabulary of rhythmic calls and steps to aid dancers in the understanding and interpretation of Cuban music.
photo by Patrick Hickey www.idyll.comPrices
One class: $15 advance / $20 door
Two classes: $25 advance / $35 door
Each Additional Class: $10 advance / $12 door
All Eight classes $75 advance / $90 door
For advance pricing send a check or money order to: (must be postmarked on or before Aug 4th)
Ryan Mead
c/o The Cottage Photographer
122 S. Jackson St #310
Seattle, WA 98104
Please include:
- What classes you are signing up for
- An email address for confirmation (will be sent on August 5th or 6th)
For further information contact ofer AT seattlerueda DOT com
Class descriptions
Dancing with and Understanding Clave
In this class we will focus on the clave — the rhythmic foundation of salsa and timba (and many other styles of music as well). We’ll examine the difference between son clave and rumba clave, 2-3 clave and 3-2 clave, and the myriad ways that this rhythm expresses itself in the music. You will learn moves, footwork, and calls that we have developed to connect with the clave and to express the clave through dance.
Group Moves for the Rueda
To dance group moves is to dance rueda in the truest sense. In this workshop we will teach moves that incorporate all the dancers in the rueda, dancing not as individual couples but as an entire group together. We will revisit our favorite group moves that we have learned from our teachers in Cuba and Miami, and show you new group moves of our own creation.
Athletic and Dynamic Salsa, Casino, and Rueda
Cuban-style salsa has always included vigorous and athletic moves and movements for both male and female dancers. In this class we’ll show you a wide variety of dynamic moves that will energize your salsa dancing, and we’ll teach you how to execute these moves safely. We’ll draw from classic Cuban moves such as Setenta por las Piernas and Enchufla como Paulito. We’ll also introduce new moves such as Flojito and The Matrix.
Sidney’s Salsa Workout
In this highly energetic class, we explore the roots and relatives of Salsa in Rumba, Son, Mambo, Cha-cha-cha, Merengue, Comparsa, Samba, Afro-Cuban folkloric dance and more! Through isolations we gain strength, flexibility and articulate expression throughout the entire body beginning with the core. We warm up with the basic salsa footwork and move on to explore more complex rhythmic variations, stylistic embellishments and related dance styles building towards completing the class with a dynamic and fun choreography.
Dance on Whatever
Has anyone ever asked you if you dance “on 1″ or “on 2″? In this class we’ll explore some of the different meanings and limitations of those terms and then move beyond them. We’ll learn how to dance comfortably on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, on Son Time, Contratiempo, and how to seamlessly transition between all of them in a single song. We’ll teach calls such as Apúrate, Demórate, and Ponche that we’ve developed to enable the dancers to switch time in the rueda as a group, and techniques that enable couples to change time together fluidly.
Ryan and Sidney’s Favorite Moves
In this class we’ll show you our favorite moves that we have learned from teachers and videos in Cuba, Miami, and across the US, as well as new and original moves that we have developed. We draw from moves such as Mundo Loco, Pasea con estilo, Setenta Estirado, Fulano por debajo, Pasea y barajéala, and more.
Dancing the Rhythms of Salsa and Timba
Salsa and timba are incredibly rich and rhythmically layered — they offer a great abundance of musical material to draw upon as dancers. This class will help you unlock the wealth of rhythms present in salsa and timba and show you how to express these rhythms with your body. We’ll isolate and explore many of the individual rhythms that make up salsa’s polyrhythmic texture, such as tresillo, ponche, bombo, platillo, and quinto. We will learn and practice dance steps that correspond to each of these rhythms. This rhythmic understanding will enhance your enjoyment of the music and invigorate your dancing, both in the rueda and with a partner.
6 Responses to “Salsa, Rueda, and Music Workshops w/ Sidney Weaverling and Ryan Mead”
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I’m interested in taking some of these classes. Is anyone else signing up?
I’m interested in the class too. I’m excited by the polyrhythmic exercises.
I have one concern: I know that every teacher or scene loves to introduce their own calls, but for me, I’d rather perfect the standard calls and more universal advanced moves. It’s a marvelous feeling when everyone in the rueda is locked into the music and nailing the calls. My fear with most salsa classes is to have spent time learning esoteric moves, half-learning impossible to lead moves, or learning new moves in a sloppy way. My hope is that special classes like this would help raise the level of dancing for our whole scene and not just a few of us. Just a request!
I am interested in at least 3 of the workshops (on each of the days) and as a lead. I know I’ll be tired, but I feel it is a rare opportunity.
I recall from the last posting that there were several people interested as well.
I agree violently with Thatcher – my original proposal to the instructors and community was a two day workshop that everyone would take all classes. That would allow working on learning as a group and improve dancing as a group.
The feedback changed the format. This will still be a great individual learning opportunity – but less a tool to raise our level as a group.
Hey there. These classes all look good. I think I’m going to sign up for the whole thing and make it a dance camp. I haven’t been dancing enough this summer…
Hope to see ya’ll before then.
Anyone attending plan to videotape the workshops? Or will the instructors videotape or bring DVDs of the workshops they will teach?
I ask because it would be good to have it as reference, in case we forget the moves. I hope we use it enough to not forget, but you never know.
have a fabulous Sunday, you guys!