Seattle Rueda

Greetings Casineros,
Back by popular demand, Duane Wrenn will be back in Seattle to teach workshops for a whole week! We gave him feedback about what we wanted so he is catering to our needs as dancers. Below are the WEEKEND workshop descriptions. We are extremely excited to have him here.
If this is your first time learning about Duane, here is a weblink to Duane Wrenn’s Bio: http://www.energeticsoul.com/about_duane.php

SATURDAY – APRIL 30th
Workshop #1: 12-1pm – Fitness for SALSA Dancers -This class features a warm up, followed by body movement, core strength training, drills to improve dancing agility, and stretching.

Workshop #2: 1:15-2:15pm – Energetic Salsa con tImbA – This footwork class is based on the concept of Energetic Salsa. Energetic Salsa takes 7-9 fundamental steps and creates patterns and combinations that apply to specific rhythms. The focus for this class is steps and movements that apply to Rhythms under the tImBa umbrella.

Workshop #3: 2:30-3:30pm – Over standing the “No Back Step Rule – How to Lead it, How to Read it” -This class will answer all the questions, look at different scenarios, and evaluate, not back stepping. What are the advantages vs. disadvantages? When is the best time and why? As it applies to Social dancing vs. Rueda dancing.

SUNDAY – MAY 1st
Workshop #4: 12-1pm – Soul*Sa in your Casino – This class looks at the popular three movements of Soul*Sa as they apply to Casino. We will add two variations with the 3 movements and look at several options for unlimited variables. The focus is for Social Dancing with a partner.

Workshop #5: 1:15-2:15pm – Cuban Folklore Fundamentals – Getting back to the roots of Cuban dance, this class will teach you some of the basic movements that will incorporate Orisha and rumba body movement to enhance your casino and social dancing.

Workshop #6: 2:30-3:30pm – Back to Basics “Me Leader…You Follower”: The Art of Social Dancing – This class is part discussion mostly dancing. The goal is to strip the idea of partner social dancing down to its core essence. What truly is the leader and who truly leads? We will try to decide if we are really social dancing or not?

WEEKEND PACKAGE – 1 class $18 /$20 door; 3 classes $50; 6 classes $75/85 door

Make checks payable to Duane C. Wrenn and send your preregistration to:
Maritza Baida – 2702 S. 12 St, Tacoma, WA 98405

PRIVATE LESSONS w/ Duane – contact Maritza for pricing and scheduling by e-mailing her at sbdiva32@yahoo.com
NOTE: NO street shoes strictly enforced at ARC, please bring dance shoes ;no food or beverage, just water allowed in the studio.

Be on the lookout for an updated post on the Blog, and for an additional Facebook Event announcement on his workshops during Monday (May 2nd) through Thursday(May 5th).

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That’s Right Ya’ll !!! They’re Finally Back !!!! Steve Guasch and his group Guaschara will play two long sets with DJ Baracoa spinning before, between and after that will make a great night for dancing. Old School Salsa, Son Montuno and Cha Cha Cha. We’ll also be celibrating Maritza’s and Barbara’s birthdays and Duane Wrenn is in town !! Tell your friends. It’s going to be packed !! Free dance lesson @ 10PM!!!!! W/Carlos Lazo de la Habana so come early if you want to get warmed up with some hot moves from the island of Cuba. The place is the Hot Spot for Saturday Night Salsa Selenas 1715 N 45th ST Seattle WA Saturday April 30th 10PM – 2AM 21 w/ID $ 8 cover

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Serbian Rueda Team performing in France:

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Lance Lu will teach a 6 week course on Cuban style cha cha cha, beginning on Monday, May 16th. The class will be limited to a maximum of 8 students. Location is Lance’s studio, about 5 minutes northwest from Sonny’s. Each class will be 75 minutes long, and will cover the basic steps for cha cha cha. In addition, we will devote time to listening and understanding song structure from a dancer’s perspective. While this class is fine as a stand-alone class, it will also serve as a preparation for a future class on son montuno.

Time: 7:15 – 8:30pm, Mondays starting on May 16th.

Cost: $100 for the 6 week course. Due to the limited number of enrollment, please pay for the course before the first class to reserve your space.

If interested or have questions, please contact Lance, Kyra or Jain.

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THE HOT SPOT FOR SALSA ON SATURDAY NIGHT !!! Great Dance Floor Great Music ! No Cover ! Drink SPecials! Salsa, Timba, Bachata, Reggaeton and Salsa Romantica ! There is a Free Dance Lesson @ 10pm with Carlos Lazo from Havana Cuba that will get you started..come early if you want to get some moves. Selenas !!! 1715 N 45th St Seattle WA (N 45th St & Wallingford Ave N) We are offically the best dance spot for Saturday Nights – ask anyone !! La gente viene sin pesar. Tenemos la mejor música en Seattle para baile. Come and see for yourself. 21 w/ID NO COVER 10PM – 2AM

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Friends, apologies for the off-topic post. Some of you know my friend Dean: he’s presenting a slideshow of black-and-white photos of Japan next week as a benefit for relief efforts. It’s Wednesday evening 4/27, and we’d love it if any of you felt like joining us.

Info (and a few photos) here: http://www.wenick-photo.com/japan_relief/

Thanks!
Kyra

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Café Cubano returns this Saturday, April 23rd, to the Blue Horse Gallery and Café, 8-11:30pm. Don’t miss out on this one! Guaguanco, Son, Bachata, Merengue, Salsa, Timba and Reggeaton. We invite all Casino, Son, Mambo, L.A., Colombian and Street style Salseros from Bellingham, Mount Vernon,
Skagit, Vancouver B.C., Seattle and everywhere. We’ll start the evening with a beginning lesson of Son Cubano (dance on the “Clave” beat), then a performance by our own Bellingham rumberos and casineros, our most favorite Reggaeton line dance and a fun Conga line dance just like in Cuba! and more
and more dance. $5 cover. It is ALL AGES! Appetizers, beverages available. 301 West Holly, Bellingham.
La rumba esta que quema!!! Agua!!
360-595-7369
rumbanorthwest@gmail.com

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Orlando “Maraca” Valle will be at Jazz Alley on June 21 and 22 with only one set per night.

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Son & Son Montuno

Ann Reynolds & I had recently had the pleasure of meeting with Roberto Borrell to talk about certain aspects of Cuban son & son montuno which seem to cause some confusion.

Two of the topics we covered were:

1. Son montuno – What exactly does “son montuno” refer to? Is it a dance? A musical arrangement? Something else?

2. How is Cuban son danced in Cuba in the 21st century?

In order to avoid taking up too much space, the full text has been posted on the last page of the cubanfolkloricdance.com website:

http://www.cubanfolkloricdance.com/contact.php

Naomi

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Greetings Seattle Casineros, I am passing on this info to you from Rumbanana if you are interested in taking a road trip to Portland. Check it out!

Rose City Salsa Festival: Mike and Simona will be teaching and performing at this event, and a bunch of the Rumbananas and friends will be there to show our support. The extended NW Casino families (Vancouver B.C., Seattle, Tri-Cities, Portland, Corvallis, Eugene, etc.) will be there as well. This is a great event to support since it’s combining Portland’s Salsa families and the Cuban groups. I encourage you to attend to build more relationships between Salsa genres. =) The event information: http://www.rosecitysalsafestival.com/

One Night in Cuba in Portland: Friday, May 6th is the next One Night in Cuba at Aztec Willies. There will be a ton of out-of-town guests in town to celebrate Rocky, Rogelio and Malia’s birthday weekend. Don’t forget your cameras!

STAY TUNED! Kati Hernandez is coming to Oregon! She will be partying and teaching workshops in Portland/Corvallis during the weekend of May 6th – May 8th. She’s an amazing dancer and an unbelievable instructor. You will NOT want to miss this! More details to come.

UNA BULLA!
Simona & Mike

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