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Some terms --> LE=leader, FO=follower , OT=outside turn, IT=inside turn, R=right , L=left, dqn="dile que no" (= cross-body lead, XBL)
Unless otherwise specified, all turns refer to the follower's turn.
Counts (1-2-3, 4-5-6) refer to Salsa footwork ("quick-quick-slow, quick quick slow"), not to the music, which has 8 beats for each complete Salsa step.
"In" and "Out" refer to dancers' directions relative to the center of the Rueda..
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Opening the Rueda
Pa' el medio (to the middle) -- Main opening of the Rueda. LEs face counterclockwise. Partners rock, in closed position, in and out of the wheel, pointing up and out, then down and into the circle with their joined hands. Continues until another call (e.g., arriba, abajo, dile que no).
pa' Arriba -- Proceed "salsa-ing" counterclockwise (forward for the LE) around the circle. Partners in closed dance position.
pa' Abajo -- Proceed "salsa-ing" clockwise (backward for the LE) around the circle. Partners in closed dance position.
Apurete! (or muevete!) -- Do it (proceed arriba or abajo) faster! Move it!
el pozo (the well) -- take water out of the well.
Un tarro (or "tarrito"; ="horn") -- In the opening circle, while dancing either arriba or abajo, "un tarro" means LEs (usually) step through (under their FO's arms) & pick up the next FO. (can also occur after "enchufla pero no dile que no"). With small Ruedas, you can come close and all touch arms in the center of the wheel. Here you can execute the taro very subtly by exchanging hands almost invisibly in the center of the wheel as you dance. LE take the hand of the next FO ahead of them arriba one by placing your L hand over your partner's, but below the next LE's, then walk through on the call. The same can be done with FOs travelling through to the next partner. Invert the hand exchange in the beginning.
pegale un tarrito con la de atras,... adelante -- do un tarro with the FO behind (or in front). Can end in la botella by staying linked and dancing around in the circle, then start these tarros from within this linked wheel.
Dile que no -- Simply a cross-body lead, into the basic Rueda open.
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Variations of Dame
Dame una (or simply "dame", "give me one") -- Dame una is the basic way partners are changed in the Rueda. At the push-off, leave your partner, and pick up FO to your right (on "1", LE's L foot). (You can use one arm, your R arm, to do this.) On 4-5-6, bring FO across to your left side by a cross-body lead (dile que no). LE, keep your eye on the caller while picking up the next partner. There is alot of time! Don't rush it. The dame una ends in the full open position, all facing into the circle.
Dame otra (or simply "otra", or "esa no me gusta","give me another") -- Another pick-up and cross-body lead.
Dame dos (with > 2 couples) -- Like dame una, except skip one FO, and go to the second (to your right). Works with any number of couples. Ignore the LEs as they are heading to their respective new partners, and simply focus on your new partner. Step quickly across (in front of, on the inside of) the FO to your right to the 2nd FO.
Dame dos (with 2 couples only) -- Here you end up back with your original partner! With 2 couples, this call has a special feel. LE must quickly "do-se-do" around each other to get back to their original partners (come into her on her left side so you can execute the dile que no). To add some flair to it, just as you break to do-se-do around the other LE, turn your FO by her R shoulder (IT, clockwise). The LE must be especially quick to get around in this.
Dame dos y una pa'arriba (...skip one, then back one!)
Dame dos, and then immediately go back one FO and XBL.
Dame una y una pa'arriba -- Dame una, and then immediately go back to original partner and XBL.
dame y no le llegues (...and don't arrive) -- LEs "pretend" to go get the next FO, but instead, turn to their R and do a hook step back to the orig FO. Meanwhile, the FO is doing a turn in the opposite direction, so that you pass each other. Pick her up for the XBL on 4-5-6.
Dame tres -- Guess! (better MOVE!!!)
la sorpresa (the surpize) -- Russ' move, whereby LEs and FOs XBL each other one after another until alli nada mas is called.
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Variations of Enchufla
Enchufla (colloquial for "plug" or "plug in";, "connect" You may also hear "enchufle", the noun) -- After push-off, small open break, then lead an IT with the left hand (FO right hand goes across her body, over her head). LE quickly steps around (outside FO) to the other side of FO. Then go pick up next partner (reach over FO's right arm as you pass her). Finish the pattern with the dile que no.. Note that some call enchufla y dame (or "y sueltala") instead of simply enchufla.
Enchufla Doble (double) -- After initiating the IT, send FO back under your arm once, then execute the full enchufla as above. LEs be careful not to let FO go too far before you send her back. (Just be sure to place your R hand on her L shoulder as she goes under your arm).
principe bueno("good prince") -- An enchufla, except kiss the FO's R hand as you leave her to pick up your new partner.
principe malo (castigala!) -- An enchufla, but instead of the kiss, mime a slap to the Princess'right hand.
mata la mosca ("kill the fly"), mosquito (..."mosquito") -- Enchufla, then tap your partner's forehead (gently!) as you leave her (killing the fly or mosquito on it!). Que caballero!
enchufla, pero no dile que no -- Enchufla without (no) the cross-body lead (dile que no). LEs finish this pattern facing counterclockwise, and do not pick up the next partner. This can be used to initiatearriba, abajo, aburrete, pa' el medio, etc.
festival de enchufla (an ebchufla party!) -- Three enchuflas executed in a row, with 1, 2 and finally 3 hand-claps in between each. The claps are initiated on count 1 (i.e. on the LE left foot, just after leaving your partner to pick up your new one). Sometimes (e.g., in the Cuban Dance Workshop at 3rd Wave, Fall, 1996) the claps are on the 6th step (8th beat of the music), just 1 beat before LEs step on the leading left foot.
pelota (the ball) una (dos, tres,....) -- Enchufla, then one (or 2 or 3,...) clap(s) as you leave to pick up the next partner. The claps are initiated on count 1 (i.e. on the LE left foot, just after leaving your partner to pick up your new one).
pelota con dos y dos -- Enchufla followed by 2 slow "stomps" starting on 6, then 2 claps at the same tempo, then pick up the next person on 1.
pelota con "fly" -- Same as above, except you wait the full 8 counts of music with arms up, looking anticipatorily into the sky for the "fly ball".
a la piscina (to the swimming pool!) -- Enchufla, ended by the LEs jumping over the FO's R arm (into the air, as if jumping into the swimming pool). Land near the new partner and pick her up on 1 for the dile que no.
el gnomo (the gnome) -- Enchufla, but with the LEs crouching like "gnomes" as they dance under the FO's R arm to the next partner.
la momia (the mummy) -- Execute Enchufla (pero no dile que no!!). Then the LE and FO salsa mummy-like in and out towards, then away from each other until the caller stops the terror (alli nada mas!!) Then dile que no to get back into the Rueda.
Enchufla con vuelta (...with a turn) -- Enchufla (or enchufla doble, ending with the LE doing a R (clockwise) turn to pick up the next partner. The trick is to use the momentum of your arm as it comes out (and down) from the enchufla turn to initiate your R-turn.
el avion (the airplane) -- Enchufla, ended with the LEs "flying" out to the next partner with their arms like vertical "props" (twice only! Once is silly enough!!).
enchufla y botala (enchufla and "boot her out")
Enchufla, then, after (quickly) picking up the next partner, go around her and return immediately to your original partner's R side, and quicky bring her across in a dile que no.
enchufla pa' arriba
Enchufla, but instead of going to the FO to your right, pick up the 1st FO to your left.
enchufla y muerdela! (muerdela!) -- Enchufla, then bite her hand as you leave!
enchufla al moderno -- Enchufla, then LEs jump to center on 6 (the "slow" of QQS), then hop back on R foot on 1-2-3, finishing w/XBL (dile que no) on 4-5-6. You stay with your original partner unless the caller calls "dame".
enchufla come es! -- Enchufla, then LEs whistle loudly as you lower the R arm to reach over FO's L arm to pick up the next person.
enchufla y casate -- Enchufla and then evryone "gets married". LEs dance around the FOs instaed of moving on to the next FO, ending up on the outside of the wheel. LEs can embellish this by getting to the inside with a quick hook turn at the end of the counts.
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Variations of Adios
adios (= la prima) -- After the push off, small open break, then pick up your partner in closed position (LE facing clockwise) and execute a right turn (LE facing counterclockwise). Leave her to pick up the next partner by simply walking under the FO's right arm (just lift it over your head!).
festival de adios -- Same as Festival de enchufla, but with 3 adios' in a row.
adios con vuelta (..."adios with a turn") -- Adios, followed by the LE doing a L turn (on 1-2-3) as the he/she goes to pick up the next partner.
la prima con la hermana (the cousin with the sister) -- Adios con la hermana (see below), but do dame immediately.
la prima con la hermana y la abuela(the cousin with the sister & the grandmother!) -- Do la prima con la hermana and end with R-to-R (X-hands) and an OT before leaving to get the next partner. In leading this OT, the LE dances in place while the FO finishes the OT. Stay with your old partner thru 1-2-3, only leaving to pick up the new partner on 4-5-6.
Calls Without Passing
mata la cucaracha! (matala!!) -- Upon stepping into the circle, stamp on the cockroach!
pise! (hit the floor!) -- Same as mata la cucaracha.
adios con la hermana (bye-bye with the sister!) -- Adios, but instead of completing the R-turn, LE goes under FO's R arm into the center of the circle. Now bring FOs into the center of the circle (like an enchufla) while LEs go out. and end up back in the wheel. Bring FO back into the wheel, to your right side, finishing the sequence with a dile que no with your original partner.
setenta ( "70") -- Open break on 1, into a hammerlock (uncrossed hands). Unwind FO, continuing the momentum bringing your R hand (FO's L hand) over your own head (face-loop) to lead her around behind you (to your right), wrapping yourself up. Release her R hand picking it up behind of you (with your L hand), taking her into an enchufla ending, and then to your right side for the dile que no to end the move. Miami folks call this setenta y uno (71). Sorry.
setenta (Miami version) -- Ends with an XBL (on 1-2-3) right after the face-loop above.
setenta y uno ("71") -- Begins and ends like setenta. After unwinding FO into full open position, bring her in close, bringing your L arm over her R (on 1-2-3-). On 4-5-6, continue as in setenta.
setenta y dos ("72") -- Begins and ends like setenta. After unwinding FO into full open position, bring her in close, bringing both your arms over her's (on 1-2-3-). On 4-5-6, continue as in setenta.
setenta y cinco ("75") -- Begins like setenta. After unwinding out of hammerlock, bring FO to your R side, around behind, while taking both her hands in your R hand. (Reach in the circle, touching the other LE's hands w/your free L hand. ). Bring FO back around front and across (one-handed XBL), changing her hands to your L hand to end in the open Rueda position. (all touch hands in center again).
el tren (the train) -- Open break, LEs take FO's R hand w/yours (crossed), into an OT. Pick up her other hand w/your L. Unwind her, while turning yourself around (to your R, clockwise), ending up on the other side of the FO (facing abajo in the circle). Begin the "train". FOs rememer that you do not change feet here. All tke small steps. End on "alli nada mas", and dile que no back into the circle.
Coca Cola -- Step in front of your partner (inside the circle) and bring her across (XBL) while turning her in an IT turn by her R shoulder. Then XBL her back to her original position.
sencillo ("simple") -- Open break, change to crossed hands (R hand to R hand only). Lead FO into an OT (clockwise) with your R hand. Then back over her head like an enchufla with the (same) R hand. While you do this, step around her into the circle (keep her to your right) and switch hands, picking up her R hand now with your left. Take it over her head like an enchufla, bringing her to your right side to end with the dile que no.
vacilala ("enjoy her, check her out") -- Instead of the R-to-L-hand push off (at the end of the rueda step), push the FO's R hand with your L hand so she spins (1 1/2 turns) around to her R (clockwise). (Help her around by cradling her around her back with your L hand). She should end up to your right, ready for a dile que no to end the move. FOs can also do 2 1/2 turns if they want.
vacilala sentada -- Vacilala with FO ending seated on LE's R knee. Either end dance there, or hold 4 beats to continue.
el televisor -- X-hands lead into sombrero, but end by seating the FO on your R knee and everybody "watch TV!!" Back to the wheel with a dile que no.
paseala ("pass her") -- You can end a dile que no or dame (or nay move, really) by walking her around behind you, holding her R hand the whole time. Swing her around in front in time to go back into the basic rueda step, ending with the R hand to L hand push-off.
yogurt! (or, yogurt con fresas, "strawberries") -- Instead of the R-to-L hand push-off, come into each other "crotch-to-crotch" (for lack of a better description).
yogurt con chocolate! -- couple accents in to the center of the wheel on 6.
yogurt con la prima! -- Yogurt with your partner, then with your neighbor, then your partner again until the caller stops the fun with alli nada mas!!
yogurt con todo el mundo! -- guess!!
sombrero
kentucky
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Other Moves/Calls
pasala con las manos ("pass her with hands") -- LE and FO all hold hands in one unbroken circle. LEs dance into the circle on the L foot while the FOs lean out of the circle (still holding on!!). Then (on the LE's R foot), pull the FO to your right past you (in front of you, like a cross body lead, only using hands) to your left side. All join hands quickly to form the unbroken circle again. Etc. This same pattern can be done "inverted", with everybody facing out of the circle!!
la rosa (la flor) -- Start with enchufa pero no dile que no. Then (on 1-2-3) LEs all enter the wheel together, making an opening flower with their hands. On 4-5-6, FOs all do the same. Etc. At the call ( hombres, a la derecha ), LEs exit the wheel to the R of the FO to their R. Enter the wheel there (w/out moving over); then (if "a la derecha" is called again), exit one partner to the R again. Etc. End either (at "alli nada mas") by dile que no, or by la botella (Int 2), or by llevala (Int 2).
unas tocas:
...el tobillo -- at open, LEs touch the ankle of la vecina (to your R).
...la rodilla -- at open, LEs touch the knee of la vecina (to your R).
....la cadera -- at open, LEs touch the hip of la vecina (to your R).
...sacudala (sacuda las manzanas) -- at open, LEs shake the shoulders (and whatever shakes with them) of la vecina (to your R).
Add-Ons to Other Calls
...con una media (...y una media; y otra media...) -- After the rueda call is done, clap once leaning down towards the hermana (hermano) next to you (LE to your right, FO to your left). "Medias" are stockings. You can remember this call because you are clapping down near the stockings of your neighbor.
...con uno, dos, tres, cuatro... -- add 1,2,3 or 4 claps to the end of the rueda call.
Paseala ("pass her")
Coca Cola
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