Rueda class level 

 
This year we use mainly letters on the level of the rueda classes:
A, B, C, D and  Master
The reason for this is that people tend to read very different things into the traditional description of what it means to be for example an intermediate or advanced dancer.

It is important that everyone attend rueda classes on their own level. If not, we will not get the desired progress, and it is participants on the highest levels that do not get enough challenge. Quite frankly, it is a challenge at festivals that some people tend to attend classes with announced levels that are higher than their own. That is nok OK.

To decide which rueda level you belong to, the most important thing is NOT how long you have been dancing, but rather WHICH standard cuban rueda moves you can dance AND how easy it is for you to keep up with teacher. The reference to recommended time of experience in the level descriptions are indications and not definite, you should of course also consider whether you have plenty or little rueda experience outside your classes.

One main difference between level C and D is speed. If you normally prefer an extra repetition from the instructor, or the move to be repeated a bit slower even, then please attend levels lower than D. 

Note that we have increased the rueda level reuirement a bit this year, and we do not offer classes for rueda beginners at this years congress. Rueda de casino is danced regularly throughout Europe nowadays, so we  want the congress to be an opportunity for development on all levels for dancers who already know the basics. Also, the class facilities are evenly sized, so we are depending on a fair distribution between the levels. 

  

Open level
Note that there is one parallel throughout the week-end, with non-rueda classes and hence no rueda level requirement. 

The blue classes do not have any rueda level requirement, but some of them have restrictions (i.e. women only). Theory classes (dark blue) are without restrictions, and the purple salsa classes are for intermediate salsa dancers. 
  

Level description
for rueda classes

Rueda A – not offered at the 2008 congress 
· know basic cuban salsa 
· rueda experience not required

Rueda B
· know 40 basic commands (see list below), including changing of partner in both directions 
· recommended ½+ year of rueda experience

Rueda C
· know 75 standard commands well (see list below
· women must be able to dance moves not led by the man (underlined in list) 
· dance to slow/medium/fast music 
· recommended 1+ year of rueda experience

Rueda D 
· learn fast 
· dance to mid/fast music 
· know most of standard part 1 and 2 well (see list below
· rapid commands while dancing rueda 
· recommended 2+ year of rueda experience

Master 
· good dancer, learn fast 
· know the moves in standards (++) well  
· dance to fast music 
· men can call rueda 
· handle rapid commands, improvise 
· recommended 2+ year of rueda experience
 

Rueda D + Master - prior knowledge (all 3 boxes)
Rueda C - prior knowledge (2 inner boxes)
Rueda B - prior knowledge (inner box)
tiempo España
la rueda! 
vamos arriba / 
  tiempo España 
tiempo España abajo
un tarro 
structure commands
repite 
… con una, dos
… y arriba
… y abajo
rueda moves
dile que no
dame una
dame dos
dame otra
dame una arraiba
enchufla 
enchufla doble
enchufla y quédate

pelota una, dos, tres
pelota hasta cinco 
la prima
con la hermana
hasta la tia 
paseala
paseala por arriba
exhíbela
sacala 
(una) media
(un) fly 
vacílala 
el dedo 
sombrero
setenta
a lo cortico
enchufla y al medio
- a la derecha
- a la izquiera
- la flor 
- flor roja
 

tiempo España
vamos abajo
exhíbela
structure commands
festival de …
mujeres …
hombres …
… dos veces
mentira!
siguelo
se fue
… y quédate
… sin soltar
rueda moves
directo
cubanito
cubanita
saca la vecina
Coca-Cola

 


patin
patin pa’mujeres
el cero 
ni pa´ ti, ni pa´ mi
amistad
bota(la)
camina(la)
yogúr 
Echevarria
principe bueno
principe malo
vacílence los dos
a lo cortico:
- cadena
- complícate

including:
enchufla y al medio:
- mujeres derecha
- mujeres izquierda

 

 

structure commands
la madre 
el flaco
el gordo
… con mambo
rueda moves
pelota moderna
Bayamo
balsero
saborea
panqué
alarde
por fuera - al dentro
enchufla y al medio:
- envuélvela
- altérnate

      
Underlined commands are not led by the men, it is required for women to know well how to dance these moves on their own. 

The moves in this list are all in the Norwegian Rueda Standard (which includes another 30 commands in addition).