Latin American Dance Resources

Additional material available to CCSF students on Canvas.

Salsa Rueda - Cuba

Salsa Rueda is danced with couples in a circle formation. The couples change partners frequently by doing moves that are designed to faciltate that. A caller calls out which moves to do next, similar to a caller in Square Dance.

• • • • • El Uno

        • Mirame  Pero No Me Toques (AKA Sencillo)

        • Setenta (Cuban Style)

        • Setenta Miami (Miami Style, FYI - not taught in class)

        • Enchufla

        • Enchufla Doble

Salsa Suelta - Cuba

Salsa Suelta is danced without partners, danced as a group like line-dancing. A leader calls out which moves to do next, similar to  Salsa Rueda. Salsa Suelta routines are also common and do not require a caller. Some of the dance moves are "Salsa Suelta vocabulary" that are well known and other moves are unique to specific choreographers/groups.

Salsa Suelta - Selected Moves

• Basics

• Front Crossovers

• Back Crossovers (AKA 5th Position Break)

•  Side (AKA Cucaracha, Spanish-cockroach)

• Side, Cross Front

•  Side, Cross Back

•  Travel Side

•  Knees (4 knees travel forward, 4 basics travel backward)

•  Zig-Zag

•   Repeater (4 front crossovers on the same side)

•   Hook Front, Basic to back

•   Hook Front, Hook back

•  Suzie-Q (4 travel forward, 4 basics traveling backward)

•   Double Cross (cross front, open, cross front…do L, R)

•  Mambo #1 (facing forward, face R & L diagonals)

•  Caminando (Spanish - walking)

•  Sencillo (Spanish - simple, easy, straightforward)

  • • • • L cross back

        • R cross back, turn ¼ L- your back faces to R

        • L walk backwards

        • R back basic in place

        • L back crossover and turn ¼ R - to face front

        • Immediately Do Other Side

        • 1. R cross back

        • 2.     L cross back, turn ¼ R - your back faces to L

        • 3.     R walk backwards

        • 4.     L back basic in place

        • 5. R back crossover and turn ¼ L - to face front

Salsa Suelta: Videos to Watch/Study

• • • • • Video: Pasos Libres Cubana

        • Video: Salsa Suelta mit Ibert Vazquez

        • Video: Salsa Basics - 5 Ways to Improve Your Suzy-Q

        • Video: Salsa Suelta - Boogalu Productions

Cumbia (Colombia)

Learn Cumbia Dance (Part 1) How 2 Dance

Repasseado - Portugal

I am including this dance in our class to give some insight into the heritage of the European partner/group dances that have contributed to aspects of Salsa and othe Latin American Dances.

Meaning: "Repassed" What does "repass" mean? How often do you use this word in English? Me? Never! (Similar but different word: "repast", means a meal.) However, it is common usage in Portuguese and Spanish. Here's what the Google dictionary says, which makes sense for the name of this dance:

• To go past (something) once again."As he repassed the gate a few seconds later, I called out to him."

• To pass again, especially on the way back. "The courtyard where people pass and repass on errands of their own devising."

• This could also refer to passing back and forth across the mountains in the region where this dance is done. This is most likely what the meaning of this dance refers to, as it is from an area of mountainous terrain in the north of Portugal.

About the Dance Movement

This dance and music make me so happy! The dance is usually done in a large circle with all dancers, or, in sets of 2 or 4 couples. I reworked this dance during the pandemic so that we can do it safely at home or in groups settings where we need to keepour distance. This version is done solo, in a line dance formation. The steps will fit within what the dancers are doing on various videos, matching the music! Keep it small, according to the space you have available wherever you are dancing right now, and, according to the floor surface…sticky floors? carpet? Try changing your footwear, wearing socks, or going barefoot!

Be sure to scroll down to the video links provided by Jeff Schneider's friend in Portugal. These show dancers doing traditional versions of the dance, in traditional costumes.

Repasseado - Jeanne's Shorthand Notes Describing the Movements

1. Clap 3 times: feet are together, knees soft

2. 7 times: start on R moving to R - Walk 1,2,3, hop on 4 (do this 7 times…RLRLRLR…your L foot will be free at the end)

3. 4 times: Turn(them) or travel (us), rock (start travel/walk/turn on L… walk/easy run LRL, then rock R front, L back, R front. (Notice that in the videos there are some variations in exactly what the dancers do instead of rocking)

4. Do #1, #2, #3 until end of dance.

Repasseado Videos

Watch and practice.

1. Trad Mad Dublin Dance - Repasseado

Note: Watch the feet of the man in white. 

2. Kissene Folk - Repasseado

Note: Fun and social...on a grassy surface, imperfect footwork, but it doesn't matter in a social setting!

3. Gira Sol - Repasseado

Note: Again, on a grassy surface, with folks turning different ways....again, that doesn't matter in a social setting!

Videos: Traditional Versions of Repasseado!

Jeff Schneider is my long-time teaching assistant at CCSF. His Portuguese friend is a folk dancer and he said that this dance is very traditional in the North of Portugal in the region Trás-os-Montes (Links to an external site.). He sent these links for videos and music.

1. https://youtube.com/watch?v=q2-Jx658Yi8&feature=share (Links to an external site.)

2. https://youtube.com/watch?v=kptTxwh9Qk0&feature=share (Links to an external site.)

3. https://youtube.com/watch?v=sLwi-zy2k2U&feature=share (Links to an external site.)

4. https://music.apple.com/mo/album/repasseado/1067782272?i=1067782722&l=en

Salsa Rueda - Cuba

Salsa Rueda is danced with couples in a circle formation. The couples change partners frequently by doing moves that are designed to faciltate that. A caller calls out which moves to do next, similar to a caller in Square Dance. During the pandemic, we taught combinations that couples can do without being part of a rueda circle.

Spring 2021

• May  2021 Zoom

  • • • • Bayamo

        • Mirame  Pero No Me Toques (AKA Sencillo)

        • Ochenta

        • Montaña (formerly known as Ochenta)

• April  2021 Zoom

  • • • • Setenta y Uno (Starts with a Setenta but includes an Enganche, a Hitch in English.)

        • El Uno

        • Setenta y Dos con Giro (Giro is a turn. The Caller doesn't usually call Con Giro, but most include the turn on a call of Setenta y Dos.)

        • El Dos

        • Setenta y Tres

        • Pelota - Una, Dos, Tres - Pelota means ball in Spanish. In this move, you can imagine you are clapping your hands to catch a ball. This move is usually done as you change partners, but we'll focus on staying with your partner as we continue our practice from home.

        • Setenta Complicado - We're providing two videos for this "complicated" Setenta. See which one works best for you! Setenta Complicado from Son de Habana and Setenta Complicado from Grimaldidance.com.

• February  2021 Zoom

• • • • Vacila ( part of El Dedo, next move we'll teach)

      • Vacila Variations (Vacila con Mano and Medio Sombrero - Medio Sombrero is similar to Vacila we use in El Dedo.)

      • El Dedo 

      • Setenta (Cuban Style)

      • Setenta Miami (Miami Style)

• January  2021 Zoom

  • • • Register for CCSF classes at  ccsf.edu. Search the schedule by instructor, Jeanne Hughes.

      • Enchufla

      • Enchufla Doble

      • Enchufla Doble Largo

      • Exhibele

      • Evelynn

      • Flamenco

Summer and Fall 2020

• May/June 2020 Zoom

  • • • Mirame  Pero No Me Toques (AKA Sencillo)

      • Enchufla Candado

      • Montaña

      • Sombrero, Sombrero Complicado

      • El Uno, El Dos

      • Vacila, El Dedo

      • Vacila Variations

• July 2020 Zoom

  • • • Candado, Candado Complicado

      • Adios Con La Hermana

      • Coca Cola

• August 2020 Zoom

  • • • Paseala

      • Paseala P'arriba/por arriba  

• September 2020 Zoom

  • • • Siete

      • Siete con Coca Cola

      • Siete Loco

• October 2020 Zoom

  • • • Enchufla

      • Enchufla Doble

      • Enchufla Doble Complicado

      • Enchufla Complicado

      • Enchufla Picante  (Leader gets to do a left turn!)

      • Enchufla Dracula (Funny, corny...Happy Halloween!)

• November 2020 Zoom

  • • • Adios (add on enchufla to dilequeno to close)

      • Adios Doble (add on belly wrap to dilequeno to close)

      • Adios Con Hermana

      • Adios Con Hermana Moderna

      • Adios Con La Familia (watch 32 seconds in for the cleanest demo that works for Rueda)

• December 2020 Zoom (ends December 12th)

  • • • Review of Previous Combinations

      • Bonus Adios Move: Adios Con Hermana y Exhibela y Coca Cola

      • Register for CCSF classes!

Cumbia (Colombia)

• • • • Learn Cumbia Dance (Part 1) How 2 Dance

This is an ongoing project. Suggestions for additions are appreciated! If you like any of this music, consider buying it so that you can support the artists!

Merengue

• • • • Top 10 Merengue Songs for Dance Parties

      • Merenque Mix 2021 #3

Salsa

• • • • 15 Best Salsa Songs Ever (Billboard)

      • Ella Si Va, Eliades Ochoa (5 mins.)

      • Estoy Como Nunca, Eliades Ochoa (5 mins.)

      • Feliz Cumpleaños en Salsa (4 mins.)

      • Happy Birthday, Johnny Polanco y Su Conjunto Amistad (4 mins.)

      • Happy Birthday - Salsa Version (2:17)

Bachata

• • • • Top 10 Bachata Artists

      • Feliz Cumpleañoz - Aventura - Romeo y Julieto (5 mins.)

Tango

• Spotify Tango Playlist (Membership required, or search these titles on YouTube etc.)

• Happy Birthday/Tango (1 min.)

• Dance Facts: Tango Music - History, Characteristics, Song Lists

This is an ongoing project. Suggestions for additions are appreciated!

• Video: Chicana Dance Crew Blends Tap and Mexican Footwork (KQED) 

• Video: Son Cubano par Carlos Rafael Gonzalez et Marie Line au festivla Caribedanza

This is the inspiration for a new performance piece we were beginning to work on, pre-Covid 19,  at CCSF! (6 minutes)

Listen to the song in the Music (Salsa) section above: Ella Si Va, Eliades Ochoa.

• Podcast: In '1493,' Uncovering The World Columbus Discovered

Fresh Air Interview, Terri Gross & Thomas Mann. (33:23 minutes)

• Video: Latin Music USA: Bridges (Video 1, 55 minutes)

• Video: Latin Music USA: The Salsa Revolution (Video 2, 55 minutes)

• Video: Latin Music USA: The Chicano Wave (Video 3 not available, info: PBS FAQ page.) 

• Video: Latin Music USA: Divas and Superstars (Video 4, 55 minutes)

• Video: Latin Music USA: The Legends (Videos, article, music for each artist)

Includes: Carlos Santana, Celia Cruz, Chano Pozo & Candido Camero, Daddy Yankee, Fania All-Stars & Johnny Pacheco, Freddy Fender, Gloria & Emilio Estefan, Héctor Lavoe, La India & Marc Anthony, Linda Ronstandt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Los Lobos, Los Tigres del Norte, Machito & Mario Bauza, Rubén Blades, Ricky Martin, Pérez Prado, Ritchie Valens, Selena, Shakira, Tito Puente, Willie Colon.

• Video & Article: Merengue Guinness Record

• This is an ongoing project. Suggestions for additions are appreciated!

• Article: History of Merengue

• Article: The Merengue of the Dominican Republic: A More In-Depth Look

• Article: History of Salsa Music and Dance

• Article: Psychophysiological Responses to Salsa Dance

• Article: When Salsa Swipes Right on Somantics, There is a Match

• Article: Learning to let go: Phenomenologically exploring the experience of a grip and release in salsa dance and everyday life

• Article: History of Cha Cha Cha

• Article: A Brief Tango History

• Article: Argentine Tango: A Brief History

This is an ongoing project. Suggestions for additions are appreciated!

iASO Records 

This site has well-written articles on music and dance addressing Bachata, Merengue, Salsa, and Kizomba. Detailed descriptions of how the dictator Trujillo influenced the music, and, therefore, the dance, of the Dominican Republic. Includes videos for learning the basic steps of several dances and an article about female bachata singers.

Dance Papi 

Salsa, Cuban Salsa, Conga Drums, Hand Percussion. "Dance Papi is the best place on the web to learn salsa, Cuban salsa, conga drums and hand percussion online for free. We’re adding new courses to our videos section soon. Subscribe to our email list and get access to more videos, unique events, and the latest news. We can’t wait to meet you on the dance floor."

World Music Network: Guide to World Music

An extensive and well-done list of articles about music from around the world, often with music and dance videos, and always an invitation to purchase a Rough Guide music subscription or album.

This is an ongoing project. Suggestions for additions are appreciated!

Organized in alphabetical order by author's last name.

Alvarez, Julia. In the Time of Butterflies (1994).

Historical fiction novel paying tribute to the real-life Mirabal sisters who were murdered by the Trujillo regime for participating in underground efforts against that regime. Gives insight into what life was like in the Dominican Republic under the cruel dictator Trujillo, who ruled from 1930-1961. He promoted Merengue as the national dance.  

Alvarez, Julia. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents (1991).

Historical fiction addressing the experiences of a family that has immigrated to the USA from the Dominican Republic. Gives insight into the immigrant experience and into what life was like in the Dominican Republic while Trujillo (who promoted Merengue as the national dance) ruled from 1930-1961.

Mann, Charles. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus (2005, 2006).

Mann, Charles. 1493: Uncovering The World Columbus Discovered (2011).

Pacini Hernandez, Deborah. Bachata: A Social History of Dominican Popular Music (1995).