What is Rueda?

Damn it!!! What is Rueda?????

Will someone please enlighten me on what is Rueda? Seems that there are so many restrictions to the so call “The enlightening Rueda”, everything seems to be such a chore now.

On the web, this is the so called Rueda.

During the late 1950's in Cuba, there was a popular dance that was done in the streets and in the clubs, and in peoples' homes. It was called Casino Rueda, or Rueda de Casino, or simply Rueda.
Rueda simply means "wheel". Casino refers to the kinds of turns and breaks you might normally see in ordinary partner Salsa Dancing. What makes Rueda unique is that the dancing is done in the "wheel", as a group, with the "followers" being passed in the wheel, rapid exchanging of partners, and many complicated moves -- sometimes done as wheels within wheels -- and all done in time with "hot" Salsa music. Each move, or "call", has a name, and is called by a leader of the Rueda, sometimes in very quick succession. Many of the moves also have hand signals as well as names, in order to be able to dance in a loud club setting. The Rueda can be as small as two couples, or as large as a space can hold -- as many as a hundred couples.

When dancing Rueda, there is a new group dynamic that happens. What is not obvious when watching Rueda, is the new level of awareness required to have a group dance flow smoothly, and look sharp AND keep it fun! Dancers learn to open their sphere of awareness, their peripheral vision, beyond the normal restricted "bubble" of solo or partner dancing. In this way, dancers coordinate and adjust their individual feel and timing and style so as to make the Rueda "click". When this happens, it is very exciting indeed! A unique group feeling develops, and you can feel the whole wheel ebb and flow, and "breathe" to this wonderful AfroCuban/LatinAmerican music. The result is an exciting Dance, exciting to do, exciting to watch!

The form of the Rueda -- passing partners in a wheel -- may reflect some influence of French Court Dances (brought to Cuba by Haitians), blended with the Afro-Cuban movements. With Cuban emigration to the US -- mainly into Miami -- the Cuban culture, music and dance blossomed, and, along with Mambo, ChaCha, and "Salsa", Rueda re-emerged and became popular in the Miami clubs in the 1970s and 1980s. Today there are many places to learn and dance Rueda in Miami.

To the **** with this.
See my interpretation of Rueda.

The gist of Rueda is to move in a Circle, meaning you have to switch partner. Not once, not twice, but consistently changing partners.

Isn’t this enough?

Furthermore, you do not really have to move in a circle. You can move in square, triangle, rectangle, crazy shapes, it doesn’t matter, as long as your partner is consistently changing.

Right? Am I not correct?

The second thing. Why why why why why why why must we rueda in a 100% Salsa song?

Why why why why why?

I strongly believe that we can dance to any music as long as there is an 8 beat cling in the music. We can do Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Cha Cha Cha or anything as long as it is an 8 beat consistent music. Why is there a need to have a distinguished 100% Salsa based music? Does it matter? Would you lose the feel of a Rueda?

No!!! Obviously.

You think I cannot do Rueda to the sound of “Only You”. Maybe it is going to be a bit slow, but it is still danceable. And you think I cannot Rueda to Eminem’s Rap? This time round, it might get a little too fast for my stumpy feet, but still, its danceable. Right?

The last and final thing. Is it because of the public opinion that distinguishes a Rueda song. On the dance floor, the band or the DJ start to spin the legendary “Rueda” songs. The crowd goes crazy and they starts to yell.

“Rueda!! RueDA!!! RUEDA!!!!”

The dancers go wild and they start to dance in a circle.

How the hell did they know this was a Rueda song?

Who said so I pondered?

“The good dancers say so lor”

I went to ask the good dancers who said so.

“Don’t know leh, whenever this song pop up, and people sure Rueda one.”

Ooooookayyyyyyyyyyyyy.

So now it comes down to a generalization remark.

I asked a advanced dancer that day and this was the feedback.

"A rueda circle needs to have a very high energy level and very up tempo beats in order to perform a rueda performance. Definitely moves has to be executed by all dancers together in order to display the gist of Rueda. The calling would help bring the energy to another level. "

Calling out for help to all Salseros and Salseras, can I Rueda to a love song?
I know I can.
But is it right to do so??
Can I do Rueda in a straight line?