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Welcome to the Salsaddiction Rueda Wiki

Introduction

Reuda de Casino is a round style of Salsa developed in Cuba in the 1950s [More at Wikipedia]. The wiki is to help Salsaddiction students remember and refine their Rueda patterns, reflecting local variations, but feel free to contribute! Below are step-by-step instructions for each rueda move and under the fold, where possible, a link to an online video.

Rueda Moves - Level One

Al medio - Lead stands on the clockwise side of follow and the follow mirrors the lead, who on 1,2,3, taps with left foot while leaning outward holding left arm up. On 5,6,7, lead bends leftward, taping with right foot.

Arriba - Lead moves the follow backward, counter clockwise around the circle - leads starts with left arm down, and goes up/down to the beat.

Bulla (una, dos) - a yell on 5,6,7 of Al medio

Cucaracha - stamp inside the circle killing the cockroach, right foot for lead, left for follow.

Dame - Move to the next follower and Deli que no.

Dame dos (or tres) - Move to the second follower on the right and deli que no

Dame dos con dos - same as Dame dos, but with a clap on 7

Dile que no - cross body lead

Enchufla - Lead steps back and pulls the follow past on the right, turn to face the follow. Keep the elbows bent!

Enchufla con Clave - Enchufla, and the lead stops beside the follow and both clap to the calve beat.

Enchufla con Mambo - Enchufla, and the lead stops beside the follow and both do a tap, tap, then tap, tap, tap with their feet to the clave beat.

Enchufla Doble - Stop the follow on 5,6,7, then do another enchfla.

Mentira - It is a lie, i.e. keep the follow.

Numbers:

• Cerro - Enchufla, on 5, lead steps back and then into the circle 6, clapping on 7. Then spin out, as the follow duplicates the move, stepping back on 1, and into the circle on 2 and clapping on three. Back to the same partner for a deli que no.

• Ocho - Enchufla, then the lead walks in front of the follow, then around the back and then front of the follow on the right. Then head back to the original partner, going around back and then Deli que no back to the left. The follows mean while step forward when the lead is behind, and back when the lead is coming around front.
• Seis - Enchufla, step in front of the follow, then behind, then in front and go to the follow on the right. While stepping around the follow, the leads should hold the arm(s) at all times.
• Siete - On 7 of the previous move, lead preps the move by putting the left hand into the circle, then swinging it back out. The follow on 1,2,3 then spins clockwise ending up with their right shoulder on the chest of the lead. Unravel on 5,6,7.
• Nueve - Same as Seis, but go to the follow on the left side. If done right, the motion of the lead draws out a 9 on the floor

Una Pa'Arriba - Like Dame but go to the follow on your left (downstream)

Pelota Uno - Enchufla, and before getting to the next follow, clap once on 7.

Pelota dos - Same as Pelota uno, but two claps.

Pelota Tres - Three claps, clapping on 7,8 and then 1.

• Festival de Pelotas - do the three pelotas in sequence.

Prima - Back break and the lead pulls follow up close with the follow's right arm up and catchs follow, spins with the follow, then going to the next follow on the right.

• Prima con Familia - Like Prima con hermana, but at the end of the enchufla, lead hooks arm and leads the follow around for an eight count before going to next follow to the right.

• Prima con Hermana - Like Prima, but instead of going to next follow, lead spins to the right, faces follow and does a normal enchufla going to the next follow on the right.

Sacala - Lead the follow into the centre of the circle and back out.

Sombrero - Lead switches hands, right to right, left to left, then spins the follow around clockwise while walking the follow around to the right side of the lead. Drop the arms down, then back up, over the head and onto the shoulders. The lead should have their right arm around the back of the follow and the left hand over their left should.

Un tarro - on 5,6,7, lead steps back, puts the follows right arm up and pulls themselves under going to next follow.

Guapea - The basic neutral movement, follow mirrors lead who swings left hand down while stepping left, right, left for 1,2,3 and pushes on right while stepping right, left, right on 5,6,7.

Rueda Patterns - Level Two

Abanico - As shown.

Arcoiris - Start like setenta and walk the follow around, then step in front with right hand up. Then lift both hands and start to spread them and the follow should spin to end up back to back. Drop the hands low, then turn toward the follow your right and duck back under the arm and the lead should be in a hammer lock at this point. Back break out.

Babosa - Lead takes both hands, back steps and pull the the follow into a "hug" or sweetheart move on the lead's right (both facing inward). The lead holds the right hand and spins the follow out to the next lead on the right while looking for the hand of the follow on the left. Enchufla the follow and then cross body. The enchufla is only done if an encufula complicado is not called.

Besito - As shown,start like sombero, but walk the follow behind as the lead keeps their right hand low. The follow should end up on the left hand side of the lead and the lead puts their left arm over onto the should over the follow. Then kiss the cheek of the follow. Lead then turns clockwise under the arms and then enchuflas the follow back into a sombero.

Balsero - as shown

Coca Cola - On a cross body lead, the lead spins the follow by the shoulder and with the same left hand, pulls the follow behind all on 1,2,3. On 5,6,7, the lead finished the cross body back to the left.

Dame con Chocolate - On 1,2,3, lead turns counter-clockwise facing away from the follow and on 5,6,7 both jump back with hands up and leaning forward slightly.

El Dedo - As shown

El Dedo Complicado - Similar to El Dedo, but on 5 while leading the follow around, back step and pull the follow's arm over your shoulders. Then grab the follow around the waist and lead the follow around for an eight count. Automatic dame.

El Directo - The lead pulls the follow past on the right and claps the hands of the next follow to the left.

El Directo Doble - Upon clapping the hands, the lead spins to the right going past and connecting with the next follow. The leads move clockwise.

El Dos - Enchufla and while stepping in front of the follow, the lead asks for the followers right hand. Then on the next count, the lead presents the left hand and continues in a cumbia motion with the follow behind. Step to the left and right, and lastly the lead keeps the right hand high and pull the follow around with both arms, spins the follow and does a sombrero.

El Doce - As shown

El Nudo - Setenta, lead follow around back and then with your right hand blind lead followfrom behind you around to in front, then setenta.

Enchufla con Dracula - Enchufla and as the follow goes by, make a mock attempt to bite their neck.

Enchufla Complicado - Enchufla, and as the follow steps in front, the lead grabs the follows left with their right, then steps under, asks for the hand behind the leads back and the enchuflas again. Then grab the right hand of the follow and present it to the next lead on the right while looking for the hand of the follow on the left. Enchufla the next follower and then back to neutral.

Enchufla el Medio - Enchufla, lead steps into the circle, then back out on the follows right. The follow and lead then alternatively step into and back out of the circle. The following moves are then called:

• Derecha - As the leads step into the circle, they step to the right and back out between the next set of followers.

• Izquierda - Same as derecha, but to the left.

• Trenta Tres - Similar to derecha, on 1-2-3 leads put their hands up and push off each other going to the right. On 5-6-7, the follows then step into the circle and go to the left. Repeat three times.

• Sopa - after everyone joins hands, each lead back rocks the follow on their left and on 5,6,7 brings the same follow's hand over their head in a hair comb like fashion. And then back out

Enrocate - Two cross body leads in a row as shown.

Evelyn de Cuba - Starts with an enchfula doble and when stopping the follow the second time, the lead spins to the right and faces the follow. The lead should be right hand to right hand with the follow. Another enchufla, and the lead does a hook turn (helps if the hand doing the enchufla is kept low) and the lead pulls the follow behind their back to pass to next lead. The lead then picks up the next follow to the right.

La Isaura - Enchufla and as the lead passed the follow on the left, continue onto the next follow on the left, cross body, then go to the follow two down, i.e. the one on the right of the original follow, cross body and back to the original partner. The pattern is one to your left, two to your right and then one back to the original partner.

Jardin - Enchufla and grab the follow's left hand with right and walk into the circle. Then go under the arm raised by the lead on your left. Then wait for the Bota call then grab the hand of the follow on your left and enchufla the follow back into the slot, then cross body lead the follow. Make sure to "explode" the circle when doing bota.

Juana la Cubana - Exactly as shown, start with sombrero, then keep your left hand high and spin the follow around to your left putting your left hand on the follow's left shoulder. Then pull the follow back to your right, keeping the follow's right hand low and fold it behind the follow's back and step up beside on the left. Put the follow's hand behind your head, then pull it out and sacala, and coming back into a sombrero. Cross body lead back to wapea.

La Jenny - Enchufla, switching hands, followed by a cross-body lead back to the left. Then pull the follow behind the lead like paseala and after switching hands, pull the follow around in front and then spin the follow into a hammer lock with the follow's arm behind their back. Cross body lead, then catch the follow by the left shoulder and while the follow spins out, do a hook turn, an enchufla and cross body back to neutral.

La Pisa - Enchufla and then lead and follow hold left and right hand respectively and lean back for 8 counts.

Mariposa - enchufla then sacala and as the follow comes back, continue to pull them out of the way and grab the right hand of the next follow. Enchufla and hook turn and then enchufla and cross body back to neutral.

Mezclado - Leads turns to the follow on the right and catches the hand and brings the follow to the left, then catch the hand of the right hand follow again but spin the follow on the left (nobody lets go!), then the leads, then the follows again. Leads then spin the follow on left into a hammer lock. Back out of the hammer lock, bring the arms up and hook in the elbows. Make a little dip.

Montana - Start with switched hands, right to right and left to left, then back break and switch places. Then back break again and do a hook turn under the follow's arms, then switch places again back into a sombrero.

Noventa (ninety) - as shown, the trick is to lift the left hand and step under it.

Ochenta y uno - enchufla and switch hands, lead the follow into a sacala with the right hand and as the follow comes back, hair comb the right hand over the follow's head.

• Ochenta y uno con bikini - upon ending the sacala, move to the second follow to the right.

Parte el brazo - Lead the follow clockwise and into the center of the circle. Lead puts right hand on follow's left shoulder and then, back stepping, grabs the back of the follows right hand and spins to the left, spinning the follow as well. Then enchufla back into neutral.

Parte el Brazo Complicado - Similar to Parte el brazo, but after back stepping, put the follows arms behind their back when they face into the center.

Paseala - Pull the follow behind your back.

Patin - Do an enchufla doble, then another one and lead goes into the center, put arms on the shoulders of the other leads and step with left foot behind right and then right behind left, then spin back out and grab the partner to your right (not the same follower!!). When joining the other leads, to put left hand low and right hand high and to start with left behind right.

• Patin Mujeres Solo - Similar to Patin, but the follows move into the centre and then spin back to the same lead.
• Patin Todo el Mundo - Similar to Patin Mujeres Solo, but after the follows finish, the leads move into the centre and then back to the next follow in the circle.

Prima y Enredala - Prima and catch the hand of the follow on the right, back step and pull the follow on your left into a counter clock wise spin. While pulling the follow out, hair comb your right arm over your heard, face to your left. Then repeat, back step and rotate the follow on your left, etc. Once facing outward, continue to rotate to your left and back out under their arms. You should be backing out under the arms of the two follows and backing out of the circle. Take the hand of the follow on your right, stamp your foot, and lead the follow around your back and enchufla, then put the follow's hand on your shoulder and go the next follow on your LEFT!

Principe Malo - Enchufla and slap the hand of the follow before moving on.

Principe Beuno - Enchufla and then kiss the hand of the follow before moving on

Setenta - As shown

Setenta Complicado - As shown

Setenta Moderno - Start like setenta, but lead the follower around behind and the lead steps in front with left hand up. Lift hands up and lead the follow a round until behind again and the lead stands in front ducking under the right hand this time. The lead then ducks slightly and leads the follow to the right grabbing both the follows hands leading into a sacala, then duck under the follows arm and cross body back into neutral position.

Setenta Neuvo - Start like setenta, but once the follow is outside facing in, the lead puts left hand low and right hand up and spins under. Then pull the follow behind and the lead does hook turn to face partner.

Setenta por Abajo - Almost identical to what is shown in the video, except the ending is different - the lead faces into the circle and once the lead stands up and does the enchufla, it follows the same ending pattern as setenta (starting at the 16second mark)

Siete con Coca Cola - Starts like siete, but spin the follow around while stepping around, then cross body back to neutral.

Siete con Moderno - Like siete, put your left hand into the circle but before the follow spins all the way out, flick the hand and grab the follow's left hand and put your right hand on the follow's back to stop the follow from spinning. Then spin the follow back anti-clockwise and the haircomb the follow's arm over your shoulder and do a cross body.

Siete Setenta - Start like setenta but put the follow into a hammerlock along the edge of the circle. Then back-break, and pull the follow around until they are facing outward, and hook both arms in on 7. On 1,2,3, unhook first left then right, then lead the follow around in a clockwise turn until they are behind with their left arm across the leads backs exactly like setenta complicado.

Sombrero Doble - Start with a sombrero, then lead the follow back to the left into a quick reverse sombrero, the lead preps inward with the left hand and rotates the follow around back to back leading back to the right and then cross body back to neutral.

Sombrero Con Mambo - Start with a sombrero and when the follow is on the right, step out the mambo step. The cross body the follow back to the left and then around your back and back to the left side. The follow keeps their hand around the mid-section of the lead.

Tambao Francesca - Enchufla, and then the lead pulls the follow past on the right with the follow's right arm. Then grab the left arm of the next follow and moves to the next follow, grabbing their right arm. Repeat until "Botha" is called, then only when the next follow presents their right arm, pull them behind and enchufla them back.

Toma Corriente - This move requires an even number of couples in the Rueda circle because the leads pair up. Before this call is made, make sure you know who your other lead is by counting in twos, from the caller and the caller's pair to their right. This is important because it means you turn left or right to face your partner, depending on if you are up or downstream of them (counter clockwise being "upstream", the direction the leads "swim"). When called, start with an enchufla and switch hands (right to the follow's left), then reach with your left hand and grasp the left hand of the other lead. On the next eight count, back break and pull the follows under your joined arms making sure to raise your left hand so the follows do not have to duck. On the next eight count, the leads pull past each other and turn to face their respective partner, but keep the hand hold and watch elbows. While still connected, the leads then spin the follows into a sweet heart move (hand on the shoulder of the follow), then spin them out on the next eight count, throwing the follow's hand up in an arc, letting go of the other lead. The leads then move onto the next follow and cross body lead.

• y quedate - After the throwing the follows hand up into the air, the upstream lead moves to the downstream follow (like para arriba) and a little mini two man rueda is created. All the subsequent called moves are done in the two man rueda until the call "Dame Rueda??" is made. For the leads to avoid crashing into each, they should be diagonal to each other in their two man rueda.

Rueda Patterns - Level Three

Control - Start like Sombrero with right over left, spin follow to the right and then hook your right hand behind the head of the follow. Then back-break sending the follow outward unwrapping the arms into a cross position. Then enchufla and keep the right arm low and wrap it around the follow's back, and the lead spins under the follow's left arm. As the follow goes under, keep the follow's arm straight, then back-break again and pull the follow back into a cross-body.

Juana la Cubana Complicado - starts like Juana la Cubana, but at the end, the follow is wrapped as shown.

Other Sources

There are many other sources of Rueda moves, but here are a list of a few of the top sources:

• The Rueda de Casino Wikibook