Today Nigel and I taught our first rueda class.
it so happened that the NUS students union wanted to do a salsa mass dance for their orientation camp this year. and they had one session of boring, dry, basic salsa which they did not enjoy. the person who taught it, neither me nor nig can identify. but bearing in mind the lessons for our previous attempts to teach salsa (in one session to utter beginners), we decided to teach rueda. and not only that, we kept in mind the objective of the mass dance. that is, to have fun and interact.
we gave much thought on what to teach, and the level of difficulty of each move. conclusion was, "dame" was the most difficult step the beginners can handle. we shall not try to overload them with enchufla and what nots.
i started the class at the very very basics. i got the ladies to face the guys, and stand on the left, while the guys do the same. then, without holding hands, do the basic guapea footwork, emphasising that it;s just a walk. Reminder to myself: do not jump into hands after this. you have to get them to do just basic, and with music, and at normal speed. it's okay to send 15mins on this alone. it's very important for the beginners to get orientated and get the feel of salsa.
then teach hands: do a c shaped swing inwards, with the guys' left hand, on 1,2,3. on 5 ,6,7, use right hand pull the girl in then out. run thru a few times....then point out that the guys have to step outside on 5, so that they dont step on each other's feet. run thru until normal speed is achieved.
DAME
explain Dame=give me one==change partner. then show difference from basic, which is only on 5,6,7, guys use left hand to push girls away. and both end up facing "in front" on 1.
form circle. do basic. do dame, now end up facing center of circle.
teach basic again, highlighting difference for guys (guys noew step forward instead of back on 1). 1,2,3...1,2,3...1,2,3....then tell girls to face guys on 3... but guys stay. then tell guys to have right hand behind girls by 3, and girls left hand on this shoulder. on 5, gently push the girl across yourself, bring her to the left, and face her on 7. (cross body lead footwork too diff for them, girls can handle footwork though). then repeat basic.
try at slow speed, then faster, then try with slow music, then normal...another 30 mins burnt here...
FUN
after every one has gotten the toughest step (dame), tell them that rueda can be very fun... introduce Una Bulla (shout), cucharacha, and Fly, Fly dos. for Fly, dont need to do 5,6,7 after clap. let them wait and then start on next 1.
after they master all those, you can try dancing to La Bomba...it has very strong beat, and very "high" feeling, leaves beginners very satisfied and accomplished...
Tada....Salsa mass dance in 1 hour