October 2008
Monthly Archive
My new favorite description of Timba
Posted by Nadja on 13 Oct 2008 | Tagged as: Kick Me !! (the poster)
“Timba is the sound of Cuba now, a rhythmically dense, relentlessly energetic music played by highly skilled musicians for a demanding dance-floor audience, with lyrics that draw from and become part of the language of the streets.”
I found this on Wikipedia while searching for the correct name of N.G. La Banda to plug into Pandora to listen while I work. They didn’t have it in their database, nor did they have a way to add it as a suggestion… So went to listening to Rubén Blades 
Jose Carrión Classes, Autumn 2008
Posted by georgia on 12 Oct 2008 | Tagged as: Instruction
Jose’s fall classes will be starting up again this week. He will be offering 3 series of dance classes through the University of Washington’s Experimental College. To register, please go to the Experimental College’s website at www.exco.org or call 68-LEARN. Although it is preferable to register ahead of time (i.e. the Salsa-Rumba-Rueda class is almost full), you can register with us at the first class (if there’s still room)!
In addition to the new classes, Jose will continue to teach Son (6:15 – 7:30 pm) & Rumba (7:45 – 9:00) on Wednesday nights.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the different classes.
Take care~
Naomi & Jose
FALL CLASSES through UW’s Experimental College:
Cuban Popular Dance: Son To Mambo Mon 7 pm – 8 pm, 10/13 – 12/1, description on www.exco.org.
Cuban Popular Dance: Salsa-Rumba-Rueda [1567] Mon 8 pm – 9 pm, 10/13 – 12/1
LOCATION: University Heights Center, 5301 University Way, Seattle 98105
Learn three of the most popular Cuban dances at the same time – Casino (Cuban-style salsa), Rumba (guaguancó and columbia) and Rueda. José fuses these dance forms into a fun exciting mix, where students learn to move their body just like the Cubans! No partners or experience needed. U-District.
General Public: $80, UW Students: $65 (for 8 weeks)
Cuban Folkloric Dance [1566] Tue 6:30 pm – 8 pm, 10/14 – 12/9, No class 11/25
LOCATION: Fremont Abbey, 4272 Fremont Ave N, Seattle 98103 (free parking lot 1/2 block up hill on the right side!)
Learn traditional Cuban folkloric dance from a true master! José Carrión was the principal dancer and corps professor of Ballet Folklórico Cutumba de Santiago de Cuba. He will be teaching a variety of Afro-Cuban-Haitian dances including Orishas, Rumba, Arará, Yuka, Makuta, Palo, Gagá, Congo Layé & Masún. The classes will be accompanied by live percussion and are open to students of all levels. Fremont. General Public: $110, UW Students: $95 (for 8 weeks)
Tues, Nov 4th – The Big Day
Posted by georgia on 12 Oct 2008 | Tagged as: Video
Hi Friends. I just got wind of this YouTuber and had to post it. Enjoy!
Video of the Week: Double Header
Posted by Cat on 12 Oct 2008 | Tagged as: Video
Here are a couple of the instructors who will be teaching in Corvallis next weekend.
Duane Wrenn from Detroit:
Julian Mejia from Atlanta:
Corvallis – who’s leaving from Seatte Friday, returning Sunday?
Posted by Nadja on 10 Oct 2008 | Tagged as: Kick Me !! (the poster)
Hola casineros!
Is anyone leaving (or wanting to leave) the Seattle area on Friday afternoon to get to Corvallis by the opening event?
Is anyone returning to Seattle on the early side on Sunday? I kinda want to go to the big rueda shindig at 11 (or is it 11:30), so leaving right after that?
I am looking for riding partners. We may even be able to meet up Martitza at the Park & Ride and head there with her.
Please let me know.
(transportation is the only thing holding me back from going).
Hope to see many of you Saturday at the Aquarium!
Un abrazo,
Nadja
Grupo Ache at the Latino Heritage Month Celebration Details
Posted by eddiea24 on 10 Oct 2008 | Tagged as: Kick Me !! (the poster)
Latino Heritage Month Celebration
View the event poster | Ticket Information
Saturday, October 11, 2008
8:00pm-1:00am
Seattle Aquarium
1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59
21 and over event—Cash Bar Only
Suggested Donation $20
Award presentation, aquarium tours, food, live music & dancing
TWO DANCE FLOORS
Live Salsa Music with
Pedrito Vargas y su Grupo Ashé
&
DJ playing a mix of all Latino music
MENU
Ensalada
Arroz con Habichuelas Negras
Ropa Vieja
Pollo Guisado
Tres Leches y Flan
Hosted by City of Seattle Latino Employees
With Generous Support from:
Seattle Aquarium
Seattle Parks and Recreation
Seattle Department of Transportation
Seattle City Light
Seattle Public Utilities
Department of Executive Administration
Mayor’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs
Seattle Office for Civil Rights
Looking for the room mate for the xtreme salsa weekend
Posted by marinamcdonagh on 08 Oct 2008 | Tagged as: Kick Me !! (the poster)
Hi ladies. I am Barbara’s friend and she invited me to join your lovely group and go to Oregon next weekend. I would love to find a person (or a few) to share room with. You can contact me via e-mail: marinamcdonagh@comcast.net or call me on my cell: 206-412-7214. I am harmless. Ask Barbara.
Marina
Notes From The Lab
Posted by casinero on 06 Oct 2008 | Tagged as: Notes From The Lab
Notes from the lab
It came to mind the other day, as I was dancing as a follow in Rueda, that leads often put too much force into their movements when leading. Now, what exactly do I mean by that? Well, if the follow can feel the force/torque in the leads’ hands, or if they feel a forceful push in their back as the lead checks them (like hockey) with their free hand, then the lead is substituting force for technique.
Now before everyone starts bellyaching about what I’m saying here, give it a good listen first, and then you can complain.
When I was first learning Rueda, Dennis Ruiz often told me that, because my body was spatially out of place in the dance circle, I consistently used force to compensate for my lack of technique. I also had a habit of leaning on the follower in order to complete my turns. All of this could be contributed to my lack of good footwork, slot-style salsa background and a limited knowledge of the basics of Casino dancing. So I decided to do some homework, AND to practice and here’s what I found.
Rueda de Casino is more a series of angled lines that in total form a circle. Confused yet? Read on.
- AROUND VS IN LINE
We often hear that N-Y salsa is danced in-line, whereas Cuban is danced in a circle. In fact, no one actually dances in a circle, for the centrifugal force would make the girl very uncomfortable! The reality is that NY is danced on a line clip 1.1, but it tends to blur over the years and be of less importance, and Cuban is danced in a series of angled lines that form a circle in time clip 1.2. Timba.com
. Therefore it is essential that the lead begins to move him/herself in a clockwise nature in the beginning* of the move in order to assure that the follow is in the correct position by the end of the sequence.(*for many moves but not all moves)
We stated it from the start, there is a major philosophical difference between the two salsas. In N-Y salsa, the turns are at the very core of the vocabulary. The vast majority of them are spotted or axed, which means there is no horizontal travel of the axis in the course of the turn clip 1.5. If you have to turn and walk, it shall be done in two separate operations, and multiple turns are a regular feature. In Cuban salsa, the turns take a back seat to the body movement, walks and curbs. They are generally executed in a walking fashion, meaning there is a gradual horizontal travel of the axis clip 1.9 and multiple and spotted turns, if any, are the exception. - Timba.com
In video clip 1.9 the lead begins the move by moving himself in a clockwise manner. Most importantly is the fact that the leads’ hand does not need to spin the follow around the circle but merely to be in the correct position to allow her to walk through the turn.
This small adjustment makes a huge difference in both the flow and the feel of the dance. Give it a try.
In order for any of us to be good rueda dancers we need to understand the nature of the dance. I hope that this will help move us all along that path.
Peace
Dennis
Sunday rueda: moving indoors
Posted by Kyra on 05 Oct 2008 | Tagged as: Practice
Remember, we’re indoors today!
4:30-6:30 pm at Sonny Newman’s Dance Hall (address above and in the FAQ page). See you there for:
4:30 basics practice
5:00 new calls
5:30 nonstop rueda
Please bring shoes that won’t scratch Sonny’s floor. $5 suggested donation for rent.