Hola!

And welcome to DanceInTimeProductions!

CHECK OUT THE "CLASSES PAGE" FOR INFORMATION ON SALSA CLASSES ALL OVER THE WASHINGTON, BALTIMORE, VA AREAS---  (Including metro-accessible venues)!!

We perform and promote all the Latin dances, particularly Casino-Style Salsa (Rueda).  Classes are offered in this Cuban style of Salsa with moves that can be done in partnership as well as in a circle.   It's always loads of fun!  (The circle dance was featured in the lively nightclub scene the movie Dance With Me starring Vanessa Williams.)

"Casino" refers to a type or style of Salsa moves. "Rueda" means circle in Spanish.  So Casino Rueda is a dance style in which Casino moves are done by a group dancing together in a circle, with frequent partner exchanges.  The moves themselves range from simple to very elaborate and can be done by any couple dancing Salsa. It makes for a very sharp looking Salsa!

DanceInTime offers instruction in Cuban style Salsa throughout the Washington D.C. metropolitan area (including Baltimore and VA).  Classes are aimed at all levels----from beginners to advanced/masters.  Click here for the class schedule. (Note  that any class schedule alteration is noted at the top of the "Classes" page.) 

Learning Cuban style Salsa is a great way to become a competent Salsero. It's also a fabulous way for experienced Salsa dancers to take their dancing to the next level.  Students of this dance learn a huge number of beautiful moves very quickly. And these moves can be done both in one on one partnership Salsa and in a Rueda circle.

Like all forms of Salsa, the Cuban style has been growing in popularity around the world. When these moves are done in a Rueda circle, a caller (who is a member of the circle), calls a move and all the couples execute it in synchrony. The members of the circle function like a team, working together cooperatively. So Cuban Salsa (or "Casino Rueda") instruction helps students become extremely competent and versatile Salsa dancers.

DanceInTime also sponsors social events, parties, and does performances that feature Salsa, an array of Latin dances, and sometimes other forms of dance, too (i.e. Hawaiian, Israeli, tap, ballroom, folk dance, etc.).

Is Cuban-Style Salsa For You?

This lively and extremely social form of dancing is for you if:

1. You want to learn a wide variety of Salsa moves quickly.

2. You want to learn not only intricate partnership moves but also group moves that can be done by everyone in a circle.

3. You want to dance with everyone.  Cuban style Salsa dancers trade partners constantly in a Rueda circle, creating a team spirit in the group.

Because Casino Rueda (Cuban style Salsa) is done by a group, people in the class become friendly and feel connected, like a team.  In fact, two couples from class became engaged--one from the VA class and the other couple from the MD class! (See the wedding photo on this page!) Another long-standing couple was forged from a brief class that had been held at a Lutheran Church.

When? Where? How Much?

Regular dance studio classes are listed below. 

1.  Saturdays from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM classes are at Crown Dance Studio; 2820 Dorr Ave.; Fairfax, VA 22031. 

2. Sundays from 5 PM to 7:00 PM at the Avalon Studio; 15 Mellor Ave.; Catonsville, Maryland.  

3. The Saffron Dance Studio; 3260 Wilson Blvd; Arlington, VA will be hold classes on the first and third Thursday nights of each month from 8:30 to 10:00 pm.  Note that this class is ON BREAK in August 2008.

4. In College Park, there is a 10-week Cuban Salsa class starting on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008. The class will run on Thursdays from 5:00 to 6:00 at the University of Maryland's Stamp Student Union, and it's open to members of the public as well as students and staff.  To register, contact 301-3142787 (Arts & Learning Center Office).   The location of the Arts & Learning Center is Room B0107, in the basement of the Student Union.  Class is next door to the Arts & Learning Office.

5. There is a class and party on Sept 12 and Sept 19 (two Fridays) at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (Room 2523) at the U. of MD College Park campus.  It runs from 7:30 to 10 pm.  The special class and party costs $15/person each Friday.

It is wise to double check the schedule on the "Classes page" of this site, or by calling Barb. Occasionally a class is cancelled due to a performance, special event, or holiday.

Note these classes cover a range of levels. They start with beginning/intermediate steps and move to more advanced ones as appropriate.

Also see the Classes page for more details, directions, and for instruction offered at other venues including clubs, gyms, Glen Echo, etc. 

We have a special offer.  You can take your first class at one of the studio locations free of charge if you bring to class a copy of the coupon which is near the bottom of the "classes" page on this website.  We also have a discount for groups of 5 or more that come to the studio classes together. Studio classes normally cost $10. This is a tremendous deal as you get an excellent class that covers a lot of material, and then you can stay after class and practice, hang out, etc.

Stepping Out

DanceInTime has at one time or another offered classes at Gardels Supper Club (now closed) in Baltimore on Saturday nights, at South Beach in Bethesda, Rene's Club in Fairfax, VA, Ned Devine in Centreville, VA, Club One in Baltimore, Ocean Drive in Wheaton, MD, Cecilia's Club in Arlington, Jin Lounge in Washington, D.C., South Beach in Bethesda, Barking Dog in Bethesda, Kasbah in Baltimore, Glen Echo in Maryland, La Palapa's in Ellicott City, Red Maple in Baltimore, and many other venues.  Plans are sometimes made to organize the group to go to these venues and to other clubs to dance.  There are Meetup Groups in all areas that anyone can join for free. These groups organize events to go out dancing together.  Check out salsa.meetup.com/163 if you are in the Baltimore area.

What the Classes and Social Events Are Like?

Classes are lively, informal, and no partner is needed.  All classes are drop-in and new students are made to feel welcome.  Click here for the Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia class schedules. 

Classes start with beginning levels and move on to advanced levels.  A lot of material is covered in all of the lessons.  We move quickly, but also do plenty of review to jog students' memories on what was already covered. If there is a wide array of levels in a class, we sometimes break into groups so each subgroup can work at the appropriate pace. 

As mentioned above, we have also held parties and outings where we practiced what we've learned in our classes.  In fact, sometimes members of our group go out-of-town together to dance Salsa or Rueda with other groups.   Likewise, we have hosted groups from other cities that come here to the Washington area as well. In April 2006 and again in spring 2008, some of the group went to Philadelphia to collaborate with dancers from Salsita Dance Studio.  And sometimes teachers from other cities, like NYC do workshops in our classes. (Click here to read about the "Play in Salsa Dancing" workshop that Erin Brandt conducted in class.) 

Throughout the years, some people in the group have gone to the Salsa Rueda Congress held in Miami as well as the Miami Congress in August.  Danceintime performed at the latter Congress in 2007.  Dancing with Salseros and Casineros who come to a Congress from all over the world is thrilling.  It's great to be able to share ideas on interesting steps, compare how they are danced and sequences blended, etc. with people outside the Washington area.

The highlight of the Rueda Congress was the World Amateur Salsa and Rueda Competitions, which Barb was asked to judge the first two years.  Click here to read an article about this unique Congress, including a description of the competitions, the workshops and the overall experience.  Since those early years of these important Congresses, people who dance with DanceInTime have been going to these annual events.

Feel free to call 301-980-6043 or email  BarbBtalks@aol.com  for updated information on class schedules, parties, and other events. Click here for more photos of classes and parties.  Click here if you want to read a magazine article that describes Salsa/Rueda dancing.  And click here for a list of Rueda steps that we cover in class with descriptions of each.

About the Instruction

The classes are patiently taught by Barbara Bernstein in conjunction with other skilled teachers (Glen, Vince, Teresa, Jessa, Sara, and others!).  All the teachers are experienced Salsa/Rueda dancers who kindly share their talent as instructors for DanceInTime. 

Barb herself has taught Salsa for a number of years at schools, studios, clubs, athletic facilities, county recreation departments, etc. in the Washington area.  She arranges Salsa and Latin dance shows at venues in the Washington, DC area as varied as the Kennedy Center, the Verizon Center, and local festivals as well as out of town. Click here for more details on Barb's background.

Are You Hiring Dance Entertainment?

DanceInTime also produces unique Latin, Ballroom, Salsa, and/or Swing shows in the Washington, DC area and beyond.  We do anything from brief performances to longer, audience-interactive programs.  If you have an event and would like Salsa or other dance entertainment and/or instruction, feel free to contact us. We are very flexible and can design a specific program to suit your needs. Click here for more information or a description of past shows in the Washington area, including those at both the Kennedy Center, the Verizon Center in Washington DC and at local festivals, etc. You can click here to see a short video clip of the Verizon Center performance*.

*This movie file requires QuickTime Viewer. To download a free viewer, go to http://www.quicktime.apple.com. 

Are You Hiring Someone to Teach a Special Workshop or a Team-Building Program?

DanceInTime also teaches classes and workshops at local schools (all levels through college) and workplaces - both government and private industry. These can range from a lunchtime or after-work Latin dance class to a special workshop. School or workplace dance classes are a great way to relax, relieve stress, get some exercise, and have fun with others from your organization. Classes can be customized to suit your needs.

In addition, DanceInTime provides "Cooperation and Team-Building Programs" specifically designed for your school or workplace in the Washington area and beyond.  Latin dance team-building activities are a great way to get people working together, and many people feel they are a lot more fun than other team-building activities.  Dance is used as a vehicle for helping people at a workplace engage together in cooperative and enjoyable activities.

Members of the group help each other as they learn together, so leadership is enhanced and personal connections are built. There is also a program that deals with recognizing different types of Latin music rather than dance, in case that is more comfortable. For more information on these programs, contact Barbara at 301-4646244 or go to: Teambuildingthroughlatindance.com.

Do You Want to Perform?

If you are a Salsa dancer in the Washington D.C./Baltimore/Northern Virginia area interested in performing, please call Barb at 301-464-6244 or email BarbBtalks@aol.com. We train advanced dancers for shows as well as arranging collaborations with other Salsa and Latin performing groups and couples.  It would be nice to hear from you as it is helpful to have additional performers!

How We Enhance And Tailor Our Performances

The performances that are arranged by DanceInTime sometimes lace dance demonstrations with educational components, such as discussing the history and underlying rhythm of the dances that are performed. This makes a nice program that both informs and entertains.

DanceInTime utilizes top talent from the Washington area and beyond, to create Salsa and Latin dance shows that are entertaining, fun, and tailored to the needs of the program/event. Some shows run as long as one to three hours such as those done for the Kennedy Center and the National Zoo's Hispanic Festival and many others.  (These generally include some dance instruction as well).  But others may be only five or six minutes, such as the Salsa show we did between quarters with 70 dancers at a Washington Wizards basketball game on January 30, 04. (The Wizards games are held at the Verizon Center which is a 20,000 seat arena!)  Click here to read an article about this remarkable performance.

Documentary Movie About Rueda de Casino

Two teachers out west, Sarita Streng from Albuquerque and Eric Johnson from San Diego, have traveled to Cuba repeatedly and filmed a top Rueda de Casino group out there.  They have done a fabulous job in making the viewer feel like he/she is in Cuba. 

There is also going to also be a separate film short on Rueda that details how this dance gradually became popular all over the world and how it has affected community, culture, and other dance styles.  Barb Bernstein, director of DanceInTime is producing this "film short."  For further information on the film and how to order a copy, contact BarbBtalks@aol.com. Also visit the "Rueda Documentary" page on this site with more details on the film!

A Great Way to Practice Dance Steps

How would you like to have a dance teacher "on hand" as you practice dance steps?

Barb created a CD titled "Rhythm Reminder" to help dancers keep the beat.  It has music with a "voice over" that counts the dancers' beats just as teachers do in class----enabling them to concentrate on their steps. It is excellent for dance practice. To learn more about this CD and listen to a piece of the music, click here.

Dancing Together at a Congress

Check out the Miami Salsa Congress page of this website.  That event draws an international crowd and performers, and it is held the first weekend of August every year.  Barb and one of the DanceInTime teams went to this event in 2007. Barb taught a workshop there and the women's team plus one (brave) guy performed in an evening show!  The show was very well received due in part to the remarkable originality of our presentation. 

We told a story about Charlie's Angels through dance and included a trick with a jumprope!!  I literally could see the audience smiling and laughing when Charlie's voice interrupted the Salsa music with the words: "I'm sorry to interrupt your night out dancing, Angels, but I have a mission for you involving important classified information..."  He goes on to say he is asking that we deliver this to a high government official.  But one of the Angels turns out to be a double agent and gives the suitcase marked "Top Secret" to a "subversive element."  The good Angels rescue the suitcase and prevail in the end!  It's an adorable dance routine that blends Salsa and Cha Cha.

In 2008, a DIT team was scheduled to perform at the NY, Puerto Rico, DC and Philadelphia Salsa Congresses.  And Barb was scheduled to give workshops in PR and Philly!

Interested in Other Forms of Dance Besides Salsa/Latin?

There is an umbrella organization of artistic directors and choreographers that Barb Bernstein, the director of DanceInTime, belongs to.  This is run by Dance/MetroDC which is the only comprehensive source for dance performances, events, workshops auditions, etc in the D.C. area.  For more information along these lines about all dance styles, readers may visit the following website:

If you would like information on DanceInTime's upcoming shows, you can click here for the "What's New" page. There are always things in the works.

What's New and Hot!

To see what is going on currently, check out the "Email Information" page on this website. That lists current classes and events.

** This photo was taken by Jim Pesci, a professional photographer whose website is: www.pescistudios.com. Thanks, Jim!