For those who want to make the most out of the event, join also the Pre-Congress Thursday 3rd of September! The 3 hour session with a smaller group going in-depht into some Rueda de Casino topic starts at 1 o’clock in the afternoon (registration from noon). You may sign-up for the pre-congress at the same time as signing up for the Full Pass, or add it later. But remember that there are limited space for this day. Here are some information about the teachers and their exciting topics for the day.

Advanced level with Ethan Wagner (US):

Rueda & Rhythm: Making Music with our Rueda

We can all remember times that our ruedas just seemed to MELT into the MUSIC.  Instead hoping for those moments to happen just by chance, what if we could make our ruedas more rhythmic and more musical by expanding our repertoire of calls and matching what and how we dance to what’s happening in the music? This pre-congress workshop will help you to do just that :)

We’ll focus on:
(A) selecting our calls to match the song structure
(B) adjusting our timing smoothly to take advantage of a tiempo and contratiempo possibilities
(C) swapping roles—through switch or confusión—at moments when the clave flips
(D) developing calls that let us to catch the percussion efectos and breaks in the song
(E) learning how to anticipate changes in the music
(F) and finally, breaking into smaller groups to give everyone a chance to practice calling the principles we’ve worked on together as a group

If you look at this list—Rueda, Music, Ethan—and like at least 2 out of those 3 things, then this is the pre-congress session for you!

Intermediate level with Bernt Rygg (NO)

Rueda contratiempo

This session will focus on various aspects of contratiempo in a rueda. The main focus will be on rueda de casino contratiempo, and on changing between dancing a tiempo and contratiempo during the song. Related topics like son rueda and rueda de cha cha cha will also be visited, in addition to rueda de casino with figures that play with the contratiempo rhythm, like in rueda pochada.

This session is suited for intermediate rueda level, and all participants should have prior experience in dancing to contratiempo rhythm.

For all levels with Rueda de Casino Austria (RdCA, aka Bernhard, Eva, Steffi & Martin)

Pre-Congress: Cantante Skills & Group Flow – Fun for Everyone in the Rueda 

This introduction to the role of the Cantante shows you how to guide a group with clarity, good musicality, and great energy — whether you call as a leader or as a follower.

  • focus on what truly matters when calling: timing, music, and group dynamics.

  • understand why a great Rueda is not defined by complex figures, but by flow and connection.

The session is equally valuable for participants who do not plan to call:

  • explore how technique and musicality benefit the group,

  • how musical changes shape the experience of the circle, and

  • how every dancer – follower or leader – contributes to the overall feeling.

Whether you take your first or your next steps as a cantante, or simply want to experience Rueda more consciously, this workshop will be fun!