Seattle Rueda

Please see the FAQ further down on this page for basic information about the Sunday practice. Or visit the tech/how-to FAQ.

The Rueda Calls Wiki is for keeping track of the calls we use regularly and the ones we’ve just learned. Our practice depends on volunteers to bring in new calls and to refresh us on old ones.

New to rueda, and want to know the most important steps and skills? Or not sure which circle to dance in at the practice? Check out the Survival Skills & Building Blocks page.

Thinking about bringing a new move to the Sunday practice? The Peer Teaching Guidelines page can help.

The Etiquette page is coming soon, with some great tips for an enjoyable time on the dance floor.

Our weekly practice is unique because it’s run by volunteers. Check out the Committees page if you want to volunteer.

Practice FAQ: (  The Blog  FAQ is here )

What is Sunday practica?

Rueda is a community dance–you can learn it with or without going to classes, but you can’t learn it without practicing with a group. Sunday practica is a time for people to who love rueda to practice together. We’ve been meeting for 2 hours on Sunday afternoons every week for more than 7 years now–come and join us!

Are you meeting THIS Sunday?

Yes. We meet every Sunday UNLESS you see a prominent notice that it has been cancelled. We have cancelled Sunday practica on average about 3 times a year. To be sure, go to the Home page and look at the top of the page where there is a small box showing upcoming events and cancellations.

What time are you meeting this Sunday?

From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Where are you meeting this Sunday?

From mid-September or early October, through late May or early June, we meet indoors at Sonny Newman’s Dance Hall, 201 N 85th Street, Seattle (3 doors west of Greenwood Ave, on the south side of the street). Free parking behind and to the side of the building, as well as on the street. Entrance is upstairs at the back of the building.

In the summer we meet outdoors at the Wallingford Steps, located at the south end of Wallingford Avenue where it meets Gas Works Park. If it’s raining, we meet at the covered picnic area on the east side of Gas Works Park.

During May-June and September-October, check Seattlerueda.com. The Home page will tell you where we’re meeting.

How much does it cost?

Suggested donation $2-5 at each practice you attend. We want everyone to come and dance, regardless of income, so please consider donating $5 if you are feeling financially comfortable. The money goes directly toward renting the space.

What if I’m new to … rueda / casino/salsa / dance?

Come on down! If you can, try to come when we start at 4:30 p.m. We’re happy to share what we know, from demonstrating the basic step to calling ruedas that let us all practice the building blocks. Generally this occurs in a separate circle if there are enough people working on basics. But please bear in mind that this is not a class, and the dancers showing new people the steps are volunteers. At some point after 5:30 we may combine the two circles. Dance as long as you’re comfortable, watch and shadow steps from the outside, or pick out a call that you’d like to learn and ask someone who knows it to show you.

Check out the list of Seven Survival Skills & Twelve Building Block Steps if you’re not sure which circle to dance in.

What if I’ve been dancing for years and don’t want to dance basic ruedas every week?

We’ll have a Dance Circle for the whole two hours for folks who know the basics well. Generally, there will be someone presenting a new step in the Dance Circle from about 4:40 to 4:50. And things will really pick up around 5:30, so come and dance your heart out. Do you like to call? Even better.

What should I bring?

Comfortable shoes that will not scratch the dance floor. Any shoes that don’t mark the floor and are reserved for dancing and never worn on the street are fine–they don’t need to be “dance shoes.”

Music you like to dance to. (We bring music, but new music is always welcome, especially new or hard-to-find Cuban music! We can play from iPod or MP3 playlists at Sonny Newman’s Dance Hall, too.)

Friends.

What is “suelta,” and who should come to the suelta practice?

Everyone should come! Approximately once a month, as posted on the main page of Seattlerueda.com, we’ll have sueltas from 4:30-5:30 (and rueda from 5:30-6:30). Suelta means we are dancing without partners. We all face the same direction and practice footwork combinations. It’s more like a class, in that someone will be leading the suelta session.

Dancers at all levels are encouraged to come practice sueltas. The footwork will range from basic to challenging, and much of it corresponds to the footwork we use while dancing rueda de casino.  When the steps become more challenging, you have the option of shadowing other dancers, continuing to practice basics without the fancy stuff, or just watching. Dancing suelta is a great way to work on your dance skills.

What if I have a question that hasn’t been answered here?

Check out the pages on Survival Skills, Rueda Calls and Etiquette. Email any questions or comments to info@seattlerueda.com.

See you on Sunday!

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