A LA RUEDA RUEDA!
Cuban Casino-style evolved in the late 1950s in different casinos and social clubs in Havana. Known as Casinos Deportivos, these venues sponsored dances with live orchestras.
As a result of cultural cross-pollination, Salsa emerged as a fusion of Cuban Son and Rumba and the hot rock'n'roll moves US visitors demonstrated while visiting Cuba on their travels. Alongside this new dance style, 'La Rueda' (literally 'the wheel') developed: also known as Rueda de Casino, Rueda Casino or just Rueda.
Rueda is a progressive circle of dancing with numerous moves called or signalled by a leader in quick succession. A unique level of awareness is developed by dancers as they open their sphere of awareness and peripheral vision beyond the normal limitations of solo or partner dancing. A successful rueda is dependent on dancers coordinating and adjusting their individual feel, timing and style to keep the wheel flowing smoothly and in unison.
I'd like to meet:
YOU! AT THESE EVENTS
*FRIDAY, MAY 4: LIVE SALSA w/ THE ECHO PARK PROJECT, w/ DJ Frank between sets. For a
table reservation, call 310 445-9705. An ALBERT TORRES event, atpevents.com. Dance
class @ 8:30. Cover charge, $15. To maintain this venue, these first three weeks are
critical. SPORTSMEN's LODGE (the Empire Ballroom), 4234 Coldwater Canyon Studio City,
91604 (Corner Of Coldwater & Ventura).
FRIDAYS: SALSA w/ CHARANGOA, playing traditional Cuban music at at EL FLORIDITA
RESTAURANT, 1253 No. Vine Street (corner of Fountain & Vine), Hollywood 90038.
323 871-8612 for dinner reservations or more info.SATURDAYS, 10:30-12 noon: AFROCARIBE, dance classes taught by KIMBERLY MIGUEL
MULLEN, presenting dance traditions from CUBA, PUERTO RICO,TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, and
BRAZIL. All dance levels are welcome. At the ELECTRIC LODGE, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice,
90291, $12. For more information, contact 310 259-5300, and/or
[email protected].
SATURDAYS, 3-4:30 PM: RUEDA de CASINO w/ DAMON WEBBER! at PACIFIC ARTS CENTER,
10469 Santa Monica Blvd., Westwood. (The studio is next to McDonald's on Santa Monica
just west of Beverly Glenn). $12/ class, Visit rueda4fun.com for more info.SATURDAYS, 3:30-5:30 PM: TONY WELCH teaches salsa at the HOLLYWOOD DANCE
CENTER, 817 Highland (between Melrose & Willoughby), in Hollywood. $15/class, $65/5
classes. For more info, call 213.880-7603, or contact [email protected]. .
SATURDAYS, 4-5:30 PM:, SAMBA CLASS with ANA LAIDLEY! $12/class at BRASIL BRASIL
CULTURAL CENTER, 4325 1/2 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City (just south of Washington
Blvd.). For more info, www,capoeirabatuque.org
*SATURDAY, MAY 12, 5-7 PM: FRANCISCO TORRES LATIN JAZZ BAND, performs for the
LATINO SOUNDS FREE CONCERT SERIES at the LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM of ART,
5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90036. For more info, and complete summer
schedule, 323 857-6010, or www.lacma.org.
*SATURDAY, MAY 12, 10 PM: "LA TROPI-CAL RETURNS TO L.A!!" The CUBAN DANCE PARTY
you all enjoyed last month is back, joining BAY AREA CUBAN DANCE FANS w/ L.A.'s CUBAN
MUSIC LOVERS! Our DJ SAOCO shares the turntables with DJ WALTER of AÑEJO
PRODUCTIONS' successful BAY AREA CUBAN dance venue, LA TROPI-CAL to L.A.'s
BODEGUITA de PICO together with L.A.'s NORY REYES' CUBANGAL PROMOTIONS. DJ
WALTER brings his BAY AREA crew, and you can bet it'll be another hot TIMBA night. $10.
Let's show 'em that L.A. can timba-down like San Fran. To add to the fun, MARÃA COSTA, &
JENNIFER BOYCE will be celebrating their birthdays! LA BODEGUITA de PICO, 5047 Pico
Blvd., L.A. 90019, This will be happening the second Saturday of every month! (PARTY
CONTINUES AFTER HOURS @ ALULA's LOUNGE, 5819 Pico Blvd.--at FAIRFAX until 5 AM. )
SUNDAYS, 5-11 PM: SALSA SUNDAYS @ LA BODEGUITA de PICO with DJ SAOCO playing his
CUBAN DANCE MUSIC, alternating with DJ Frank playing Salsa Dura from 5-8 PM. Dance
class with LIZ LIRA, 4-5 PM. Good food, full bar. 323 937-CUBA or labodeguitadepico.com
for directions. LA BODEGUITA de PICO, 5047 Pico Blvd., L.A. 90019. $7 cover, $5 w/
dinner. An Albert Torres Event. www.atpevents.com
SUNDAY,8:30 PM-1 AM: CUBAN DANCE PARTY @ ZABUMBA! DJ SAOCO spins all our
favorite contemporary CUBAN MUSIC.. The evening begins with w/ YOSSI's salsa class, 7:
30-8:30 PM ($10/class). THE DANCE PARTY IS FREE, but help support ZABUMBA's
hospitality over the years, by indulging in one of their tasty dinners, treats or drinks!
ZABUMBA, 10717 Venice Blvd., WLA.
MONDAYS, 7:30-8:30 PM: AFRO BRAZILIAN DANCE CLASS taught by LINDA YUDIN,
teaching orixa dance movement and elements of Silvestre technique. Live percussion.
Single class: $15. 4 class package-$52. Heartbeat House dance workout studio: 3141
Glendale Blvd, (Atwater Village), LA. For more information: 323-669-2821; email
[email protected] or [email protected]. viverbrasil.comMONDAYS, 8:15-9:45 PM: . PEDRO `MUNECO' AGUILAR teaches AFRO CUBAN DANCE
CLASS w/ live drumming accompaniment at the NEW LULA WASHINGTON DANCE THEATRE,
3773 S. Crenshaw, LA 90016, 323 292-5852. $10. www.lulawashington.com.
MONDAYS: RUBANKETE/DJ SAOCO/SALSA CLASSES w/ JEN & YOSSI at L.A.'s new live salsa
venue, EL BARON! DENNIS JIRÓN's band features GONZALO on vocals, JOEY de LEÓN on
percussion. 8-9 PM --Dance class w/ YOSSI & JEN; 9 PM--DJ SAOCO spins; 9:30
RUMBANKETE plays LIVE SALSA! EL BARON, 8641 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City 90323,
310 559-1127. $10 cover, or $12 cover with dance lesson. For more info: http://
myspace.com/rumbankete1
MONDAYS & THURSDAYS, 8:30 PM: AFRO-BRAZILIAN & AFRO-CARIBBEAN DANCE taught by
JEANE JULY-STERN at the ARTE FLAMENCO STUDIOS, 230 West Main St., Alhambra. Classes
are $11. For more information call the studio (626) 458-1234 or (323) 294-3976..NOW-SUNDAY, MAY 20, Theater production of GUANTANMERA, a bilingual adaptation
from the original script of ELISEO ALBERTO DIEGO and TOMÃS GUTIÉRREZ ALEA's film of
the same name. Directed by MARGARITA GALBÃN at the TEATRO CARMEN ZAPATA, 421
No. Ave. 19, L.A. 90031. Pricess range from $20-$35. Group rates available. Produced by
the BILINGUAL FOUNDATION of the ARTS. For more information, www.bfatheatre.org.
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PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR!
*TUESDAY, JUNE 5: DANNY LOZADA y SU CHARANGUEO MAYOR! YES! The CHARANGA
HABANERAS's former vocalist and songwriter ("Dime que te quedarás..") will be performing
at L.A.'s live timba spot, host WILLIE MacNEIL's TUESDAY at the KING KING! LOZADA will be
accompanied by 12 of the very hottest CUBAN MUSICIANS living on the west coast,
including RIGOBERTO LÓPEZ (Adalberto Alvarez y Su Son); LUIS ERIC (Paulito F.G. y su Elite/
Celia Cruz), SANDY PÉREZ (Afrocuba de Matanzas); RAÚL PINEDA (Chucho Valdés), to
mention just a few. DJ SAOCO will keep the energy up between sets with the latest CUBAN
GROOVES. $15 cover tonight. KING KING, 6555 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028. For
more info, visit www.lucumiyque.com.
AND IN JUST A FEW DAYS THE MUCH ANTICIPATED CUBAN FESTIVAL
Confirm events with listed venues. For more detailed info and future events, visit
www.curuye.com.
Music:
CUBAN TIMBA: LOS VAN VAN, CHARANGA HABANERA, PAULITO F.G., MANOLITO Y SU TRABUCO, ADALBERTO ALVAREZ, MAYITO, MICHEL MAZA, TIRSO DUARTE, BAMBOLEO, CESAR PEDROSO "PUPY", NG LA BANDA (LA QUE MANDA!), SUR CARIBE, ISAAC DELGADO, OSVALDO CHACON, AZUCAR NEGRA, DAN DEN, PACHITO ALONSO, ELIO REVE, Y LOS DEMAS!
FOTOS FROM LOS VAN VAN CONCERT IN MEXICO, 5-5-05
ISAAC DELGADO
CUBAN TIMBA ALL-STARS IN LOS ANGELES!
Movies:
FILM SCREENING: EDNESDAY, MAY 9, 7 PM: "EL BENNY" feature length Cuban film on the life of music
legend, BENNY MORÉ, Cuba's beloved musician and ..sonero' is finally screening in L.A.!
The film, directed by JORGE LUIS SÃNCHEZ, will be showing at the SILVER LAKE FILM
FESTIVAL. The film made its debut in La Habana last summer, and habaneros lined up in
droves to see it! The film also includes modern interpretations of Moré's music by
CHUCHO VALDÉS, HAILA, JUAN FORMELL, and ORISHAS. LOS FELIZ 3 THEATRE, 1822 North
Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, 90027, $11. For the complete schedule of the festival's
films, and for more details, visit www.silverlakefilmfestival.org. For tickets and more
information on this particular film, visit... http://audience.silverlakefilmfestival.org/
festivals/event_item.php?id=4971
BALSEROS, CUBAMOR, PORTRAIT OF TERESA, I AM CUBA, STRAWBERRY & CHOCOLATE, MEMORIES OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT, LA FABRIK, LISTA DE ESPERA, LUCIA...
Television:
CUBANIADAS! CUBAN SAYINGS ¡No jodas!" = "Get out of here!"
"¡No me digas!" = "Don't tell me!"
"¡Para de chivar!" = "Stop busting my chops!"
"¡Qué paqueté'!" = "What a Pack of lies!"
"¡Qué relajo!" = "What a Total Mess!"
"Qué guayaba" = "What a Lie"
"¡Hay que hacer la cola!" = "You got to get on line"
"Ya eso esta liquidado" = "That's Done"
"El Radio Bemba" = "Mister or Miss Gossiper"
"¡Me di tremendo tanganazo!"= " I hit myself hard!"
"¡Qué tangana!" = "What a nagging pain!" To bear silently and helplessly another person's whining or arguing.
"¡Qué clase de tipo!" = "What a Good Guy!" or "What a piece of shit"
"¡Qué paragüero!" = "What a Bad Driver!"
"¡Qué tranque!" = "What a traffic Jam"
"¿Qué bolá?" = "What's up!"
"¿Qué pasa mi socio?" = "What's up my man?"
"¿Qué pasa consorte?" = "What's up, dude?"
"¿Qué pasa compay?" = "What's going on, dude?"
"Vamos echar un pie!" = "Let's dance until we drop!"
"El echo un pie" = "He took off running"
"Me voy para la pega" = "I'm going to Work"
"¡Arranca!" = "Get Going!"
"Arranca el carro" = "Start the car"
"¡Dale!" = "Hit It!" or "Let's go"
"¡Meter mano!" = "Get into it!"
"¡Dale a todo meter!" = "Give it all you got"
"¡Yo soy Cubiche!" = "I'm Cuban!"
Books:
NO TIME TO READ, WE'RE DANCING! J/K!!!! (AFRO-CUBAN RELATED BOOK TITLES COMING SOON!)
Heroes:
www.curuye.com
spreading the good word about afro-cuban events and more in southern los angeles! Thank you for the years of information!
