What Is "Rueda"?

Rueda is the Spanish word for wheel. In the dance, "Rueda De Casino", pairs of dancers form a circle (usually).  The dancers move along the spokes and rim of the wheel. A "cantante" (caller in Spanish) will call out moves and use hand signs (in case the music is too loud to hear) to indicate various salsa dance moves that the group has previously learned.

The dance "Rueda" originated in the Cuban casinos deportivos which were dance halls where a lot of social dancing was done among the affluent Cubans beginning around the 1950s. The dance goes by a few different names. You may also hear it called "Casino Rueda", "Rueda De Casino", "Rueda Del Casino" or "Salsa Rueda".

Many of the moves involve changing partners. Fun combinations and constant movement of partners around the circle and make rueda a lot of fun to watch as well as perform.

- Mary Scanlon
Founding Director and Lead Instructor for Los Angeles Rueda