Below is a sampling of some basic, intermediate, and advanced moves. Readers interested in more detail can find hundreds of additional moves with videos in my book, “Salsa Dancing & Rueda de Casino Guidebook for Beginner to Advanced Dancers: Steps, Styling, Technique, Latin Rhythms, Humor & Anecdotes.” There is information on both Casino steps and L.A. Salsa steps. For ordering details visit amazon.com or salsacasinorueda.com.
In any case, below are some useful videos of common beginner and intermediate and advanced moves. The initial three videos each cover a group of steps done in Rueda de Casino. After that there are videos on individual moves.
youtu.be/z6jqT83-IL0 This is Instructional Cuban Salsa Video Part 1. It explains Basic, Dame, Fly, Besitos, and Enchufla. These are the most basic moves and they are described for “novice” dancers in Section 1.
youtu.be/TTibS0sXZ0E This is Instructional Cuban Salsa Video Part 2. It explains Pelota Con Dos, Pelota Con Quatro, Enchufla con Mambo, Festival de Enchufla, Adios, Uno, Enchufla Doble, Foto, and Dame Dos.
youtu.be/fCDkrIV0ccw This is Instructional Cuban Salsa Video Part 3. It covers Pa’ti Pa’mi, Adios con La Hermana, Kentucky, Pelota Loca , Enchufla con Exhibe, Adios Arriba, Enchufla Arriba, and Candado.
A. BASIC MOVES
Guapea ("Basic Step”)
youtu.be/qFE1AjemJZw Guapea done in partnership
youtu.be/z6jqT83-IL0 The basic Rueda de Casino steps are explained in this video, starting with Guapea. At the end of the video there’s a group that dances the move in a Rueda circle. So you can see how Guapea and other steps are done by a group as well as with just one partner. A Rueda circle is a group of couples that arrange themselves around the arc of a circle. The leader always stands so that his right shoulder is toward the center of the circle. The follower’s left shoulder is toward the center of the circle.
Below is a verbal description of Guapea, the basic step, as shown in the videos. During the basic step, the leader’s left hand holds the follower's right hand, and their other hands are not held. However, when they rock forward on beat 5, they each hold the other hand up and their hands push gently against each other. Watch the video to see what this looks like. This contact on beat 5 which is released right after the push, helps make partners feel connected when they do the basic step.
Beat 1 2 3: Step back and together Note: The foot on the outside of the Rueda circle goes back, away from your partner
Beat 5 6 7: Step forward and together Note: The foot on the inside of the Rueda circle goes straight forward for followers and at a slight diagonal forward and to the right for leaders. This is because if both partners step straight forward their feet will hit each other. So the later makes an adjustment and steps at a slight diagonal forward and toward the center of the circle.
Terminology: The leader's “outside foot” is his left and the follower's “outside foot” is her right. The leader's “inside foot” is his right and the follower's “inside foot” is her left. This refers to what is on the inside or outside of the circumference of the circle.
Dame
youtu.be/z6jqT83-IL0
The move is explained in this video and at the end of the video there’s a group that dances the move in a Rueda circle. Note that the chant in italics, describes the leader's footwork. But after that there is a description of both the leader’s action and the follower's action.
Hereafter, the notation 1 or “Beat 1” in a chart/listing refers to the three beats that start on beat 1. And a 5 in a chart/listing refers to the three beats that start with 5.
Beat 1 Dame (called)
Beat 5 Forward and turn Leads turn to their right, and by beat 7 they are facing the follower who had been behind them. Followers turn to their left to face the center.
Beat 1 Travel to your partner Leaders move left right left to their next partner while ladies stay more or less in place but with a slight diagonal turn to the left.
Beat 5 Cross body lead (“CBL”). This is done at the end of nearly all steps in Rueda. The follower steps left, right left and pivots on the right foot (beat 6). Followers walk in a straight line, in front of the leader and move to the leader’s left side. The leader steps right left right and switches places with follower, while also turning to the follower
After leaders resume basic (“Guapea”), by stepping back on their left and leading the followers to step back on their right, the new partners move to the usual hand hold. The leads should bear in mind that they just gently nudge the follower to do the CBL. They do not push the follower through the entire movement. Momentum carries the follower along.
Dame Otra
This just means to do another Dame and it always comes after an initial Dame is called. “Otra” means “another.”
Fly, High Five, Besitos, And Other Rhythm Steps
youtu.be/z6jqT83-IL0 The move is explained in this video and at the end of the video there’s a group that dances the move in a Rueda circle.
youtu.be/U8PCIvmXH6Y See 0:39 to 0:43 to watch dancers do the step “Fly.” This was done at a Hispanic Heritage Month show for a Prince Georges County Library.
youtu.be/TDPs6DC16zM Watch 1:02 to 1:05 to see Besito in a performance.
There are a number of simple, fun moves just like “Fly” that have some action on beat one, facing the partner "behind" you in the circle. The timing is the same for all of them. Rhythm steps include: High Five (do a high five with the free hand which is the leader's right and follower's left), High Ten (do a high ten but use both hands), Fly, (clap as though killing a Fly), Two Flies (clap on beats one and two), Besitos (an air kiss gesture—without contact—to the person behind you), etc.
1 call High Five
5 Forward, and turn (step forward; leaders right and followers left so they face the person who had been behind them.)
1 Hit, turn around (Do a high five with the person you are facing, and then turn back to face your partner)
5 Forward and together (resume Guapea on beat 5)
To do Fly, each dancer claps their own two hands together on beat one while facing the person who had been dancing behind them in the basic step. To do “Two Flies,” dancers clap on both beats one and two. And “Three Flies” has dancers clapping on beats 1, 2, and 3.
Enchufla
youtu.be/z6jqT83-IL0 The move is explained in this video and at the end of the video there’s a group that dances the move in a Rueda circle.
This builds on the step “Dame.” As you progress through increasingly advanced steps, this is often done. Many moves have pieces of previously learned moves, with some new material added.
Dame Dos / Dame Tres
youtu.be/TTibS0sXZ0E You can see Dame/Dame Dos/Dame Dos from 13:35 to 13:45.
Usually a Dame Dos comes directly after a Dame with no basic in between. When Dame Dos is called, leaders leave their Dame partner on 5 6 7 and move to their new partner on 1 2 3. But the new partner is “two followers down,” moving in the counterclockwise direction (downstream). So for a Dame Dos the leader skips one follower and goes to the follower after that.
If leads count the followers “downstream” (i.e. in the direction they are moving), they do a Dame to the first one, and then a Dame Dos to pick up the third. They have the same amount of time to move to each follower, so big steps are needed to get to the third partner in time! It’s fun to do more than one Dame Dos in a row as you can see in the video above—but you really have to hustle!
A Dame Tres means the leader is skipping two ladies and picking up the third from him after the initial Dame. So if he counts the followers downstream before starting Dame/Dame Dos, he would pick up the first and then the fourth follower. This generally requires huge steps!
It is perfectly ok to call a Dame Dos or Dame Tres without first doing the Dame. But if Dame is called first, it helps get the momentum needed to complete the move.
Dame Arriba / Dame Dos Con Uno / Dame Dos Con Dos
youtu.be/TDPs6DC16zM (Performance venue: Vis Arts in Rockville)
The steps performed in order are: Uno y Dos, Vacila with a shine (i.e. footwork). Then the couples move into a circle and do Dame, Enchufla doble arriba, Sombrero, Besito (an "air kiss), Echeverria (3 twists), Puente (the "bridge" move), Balsero, Pa’ti pa’mi, Kentucky, Pelota con dos, Adios con la Hermana, Dame, Dame Dos, Dame Arriba (going back to the previous partner), Foto, Beso, Setenta, Enchufla con mambo, Dedo, Adios, and Candado.
Note that the sequence: Dame, Dame Dos, Dame Arriba in this video which is bolded in the above paragraph is a common sequence that is action-packed!
Dame Arriba means that the leader moves back to the follower he had partnered with previously, moving “upstream” which is in the clockwise direction around the circle. The leader has to come to the new partner’s left side which is the farther side, so this move also requires big steps! These moves are most easily understood by watching a video.
Additional examples of moving in the opposite direction from the usual flow are shown in the steps Enchufla Arriba and Adios Arriba (below).
The only difference between Dame Dos con Uno and Dame Dos, is that you are adding one clap to the action. In my group, the clap is on beat one but many groups clap instead on beat 7. If Dame Dos Con Dos is called, you clap twice as you are moving to the new partner. Again, we clap on 1 and 2 but some groups clap on the previous beats 7 and 8. In these moves, the uno or dos that are in the call after the word “con” refer to the number of claps. So Dame con Uno means do a Dame and clap one time. Dame Dos con Dos means do a Dame Dos and clap twice. Dame con Dos means to do a Dame and clap twice. Dame Dos con Uno means to do a Dame Dos and clap once!
B. INTERMEDIATE MOVES
Pasaela / Pasaela Al Reves
youtu.be/RvY2WD6P4Sw Watch 1:31 to 1:41 for Paseala al reves. The only piece missing is that this move done by itself would begin 8 beats prior to 1:31 with Enchufla.
To do Pasaela instead of Pasaela al Reves, after the follower is on the leader’s right at 1:35, a CBL to end the move.
This step when done by itself begins with 8 beats of Enchufla. Then the follower is brought 360 degrees around the leader moving counterclockwise over the next 12 beats.
I do Pasaela Al Reves by starting with the first 20 beats of Pasaela as described above. But then the leader reverses the follower’s direction, moving the follower from the leader’s right to left side while the follower is in back. The move is then finished with an Enchufla y Quedate.
Uno Y Dos
youtu.be/SWHzOilJzT8 This is the first move explained in this video. At the end of the video there is a group demonstration.
youtu.be/TDPs6DC16zM Watch 0:04 to 0:19 to see the move in performance.
Vacila
youtu.be/SWHzOilJzT8 This step is just like Sombrero except you don’t hold hands with your partner. The move is the third one in this video. At the end of the video there is a group demonstrating that move.
Setenta
youtu.be/SWHzOilJzT8 The move is included in this video. At the end of the video there is a group demonstrating those moves in a circle.
youtu.be/TDPs6DC16zM Watch 2:42 to 2:52.
Puente
youtu.be/Y-FxQSPU16w Watch 2:15 to 2:26. This cool move is a cross between a group move and an individual (one couple) move. It involves two couples with the leads making a bridge that the followers go back and forth under. This lovely move is one I use a lot in performances. You can see it in many of the videos that have links in this book!
youtu.be/TDPs6DC16zM Watch 1:12 to 1:24 to see the move in a performance.
Sombrero De Manny
youtu.be/SWHzOilJzT8 Sombrero de Manny is the last move taught on this video. At the end of the video there is a group demonstrating those moves in a circle.
Dedo Extended
youtu.be/SWHzOilJzT8 This move which is explained in that video, is just Dedo blended with Montana. That means you don’t do a basic step between the two moves. You start Montana on beat 1 right after ending Dedo.
This begins with Dedo using a "one-handed" cross hand-hold. Then Montana is done by switching to a two-handed cross hand-hold.
Beso, Balsero, Balsero y Beso, Siete, Siete Moderno, Siete con Coca Cola, and Abanico
youtu.be/SWHzOilJzT8 All of these moves are likewise explained in this video.
Enchufla Con Bikini
youtu.be/fku5P6H5okk See 3:21 to 4:08 This is illustrated in a video review of moves that I taught at a Miami Salsa Congress. If the followers move enough to their left while they grapevine and turn, the leaders can make this move a Dame Tres (rather than a Dame Dos). This provides a greater degree of movement and action. There are many patterns for the followers’ movement in this step; groups may want to make up their own!
La Jenny
youtu.be/vkR0QK20hOY This video shows the entire move.
La Rubenada
youtu.be/e1aiku30dn0 At about 0:42 in this video, the partners do what I call “the funky turn.” I call it this because initially the leader’s left arm is hammer-locked (the leader is the lady in the red top) and the follower’s right arm is hammer-locked. But after the funky turn, it’s the other way around. That is, the leader’s right arm is then hammer-locked and the follower’s left arm is hammer-locked. So the turn switches which arm is hammer-locked for both partners.
This turn is led by the leader’s right arm and the leader’s footwork during the turn is a rondee. That means the leader’s right foot goes behind the left foot and the turn is done without lifting either foot off the floor. Note that they are turning in opposite directions. This is an advanced but pretty standard move.
C. ADVANCED MOVES
Beso Complicado With Straight Jacket
youtu.be/1Wa3449GRrk This is the move Beso with the usual “Complicate" sequence added on to the ending. It can be done with or without the “straight jacket” component.
If you are doing Beso Complicado without the Straight Jacket ending, you end that about the same way that Uno Complicado and Sombrero de Regnier ends. This is referred to as “Complicate” and it can be done with or without the “Straight Jacket” maneuver.
Balsero Extended
youtu.be/RvY2WD6P4Sw 1:15 to 1:42 This move starts with the first 16 beats of Balsero, then a short piece of Sombrero Doble, and most of a back to back Dedo, followed by Paseala al Reves. This move was inspired by a sequence in a NYC Rueda class taught by Chris Rogicki.
Kentucky Complicado
youtu.be/s-E0ZmW6-EAb See 17:42 to 18:06 This shows Kentucky Complicado from 1:04 to 1:25 in a Danceintime show at the Kennedy Center. I like this video of the move best because it shows a hook and unhook action around 17:52. Over time in doing the move, we stopped doing the first hook since it is not essential to the move. But it has a nice look!!
Bebe
youtu.be/eaad-AVKmaE This is a long move that combines pieces of several other Rueda steps. They are in order: Balsero y beso; Exhibe; reverse Balsero but both hands go overhead as she comes around; back to back turn, and finally Abanico. The ending of Abanico is where the leader turns the follower while walking in an arc, and finally the leader turns in place. Note that many people find the step Abanico to have an unfinished feeling. If you promptly go on to other moves, that uncomfortable feeling passes quickly.
Siete Loco Complicado
youtu.be/s-E0ZmW6-EA See 13:18 -14:42 to watch the move walked through. Watch 2 couples dance the move at 15:18 to 15:48
This move begins with Siete Loco and ends with Setenta Nuevo. This video from a Kennedy Center show has one couple walking the through the move. Then two couples dance it in a Rueda. But interestingly, each leader does it a little differently so in the latter half of the move, I face the inside of the circle and the other leader faces the outside of the circle at one point! I teach the move the way I do it in this video. (I’m the female leader.). We didn’t realize that we were doing the move differently until we saw the video! But you can see both approaches work perfectly well. This is a good example of a move being done in different ways--both of which work just fine. So leaders can choose which approach they prefer!
Thalia
youtu.be/GREIyDzSur4 Watch 0:38 to the end. The final segment of the Dile Que No is cut off and the initial Enchufla isn’t shown, but you can see the bulk of the move.
https://www.facebook.com/nalers/videos/1806364171513/?t=81 Watch from 0:07 to 0:26. The move is easy to grasp in this video because it’s done to music at a slow tempo. This was an Indian-themed event, and DIT was asked to do some kind of fusion of Indian and Latin dancing. We did Rueda moves to Indian music which worked out nicely. And you can see the action in the moves at this speed!
youtu.be/3p356ZIobI4 This video starts with the front row (3 couples) doing Clasico with the camera as the “center.” The back 3 couples are doing Carnaval Extended with the back of the stage as their center. Then all six couples do Thalia together starting at about 0:30 with the front of the stage as their center. Note that because the choreography involves the blending of moves, it doesn’t show the move as starting with Enchufla.
1 starts with Enchufla
5 QQS
1 les rock in
5 bring follow around tap
1 turn turn turn
5 back rock Enchufla
1 back rock Enchufla
5 bring follow to your side
1 basic step
5 basic s
1 follower does a flare
5 CBL tap (leaders hold arms close to their body without extending them, so the follower stays close)
1 follow turns once tap (follower taps)
5 follow turns twice tap (follower taps on other foot)
1 turn with both hands (both hands over follower’s head)
5 QQS
1 lead rocks in
5 CBL
El Sabor (Also called Ponle Sabor)
youtu.be/s-E0ZmW6-EA See 16:30 to 16:49 performed at a Kennedy Center show.
Dedo Saboreado
youtu.be/jzn4ZS6BnBY This move starts like Dedo and ends like El Sabor
Calvo
youtu.be/WH7_HFX4nf4 This move is from 1:05 to 1:59. This is a move I learned on a visit to Cuba. The name means “bald.” Though this is a short move, it requires fast movement and good technique to do in the proper timing. I’m teaching it in the video at a Rueda Exchange workshop in NY.
1 Do a prep
5 Turn the girl (R turn w hammer-lock)
1 Back rock Enchufla
5 Left then right
1 Back rock Enchufla
5 Right then left
1 2-handed Enchufla
5 Face the center
Exhibe
Exhibe
1 Guy rocks in
5 CBL