Cuban Dance Workshops with Steve Friedman this Saturday, June 5th

Jun 5 2010 1:00 pm

 I (Gerardo) recommend this workshop, especially to those of you involved in Ritmos Latinos, since it will allow you to understand the historical, musical and dance commections between rueda do casino and other, very important, earlier forms of Cuban music.

Class 1: Classic and Contemporary Cuban Steps (1:00 to 2:30)

Cuban salsa dance today (known as Casino style) contains earlier forms of Cuban popular dance. In this class we will survey Cuban rumba, son, cha cha cha and mambo, and show how they have influenced modern Cuban Salsa, and can help enrich your own personal style.

Class 2: Cuban Patterns in Closed Position (2:30 to 4:00)

Modern Cuban Style is popularly expressed in the group dance, Casino Rueda. It’s characterized by a variety of playful and intricate turn patterns within a circular, and often large, space. While fun, this can create problems on a crowded dance floor. In this class, we explore dancing casino in closed position, allowing for more intimate connection between partners and an expressiveness especially suited for slower tempos and melodic songs.

A Note about the Teaching Method:

Each class will be taught to all levels of experience. However, a fluency in basic salsa or some dance experience is highly recommended. The technique of basic movement will be taught from “the inside-out,” repeating the movement sufficiently to embody the feel of the movement, adding complexity incrementally for easier leaning and to provide material for more advanced dancers. Classes will move fairly quickly through material with ample time to dance to, and enjoy, the music.

About the Instructor:

Steve Friedman has been teaching Salsa since 1992, mostly in the SF Bay Area. He has also taught in the Dance Department at UCLA, where he did graduate work in Dance Studies from 1998 to 2001. His thesis is on the development of LA style salsa and how its’ attributes differ from other major regional styles.

Price: $12 for one class, $20 for both classes. To pre-register, please send an email to stevenfriedman55@yahoo.com. Cash or check at the door. 

Location: The Dunbar Cultural Center ( 325 W. 2nd St. ) MAP to Dunbar

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