We invite you to come and master one of the most fun dances on the dance floor — Rueda de Casino!

Casino AKA Cuban Salsa and its’ circular group dance Rueda de Casino began in the 1950s and continues as a living and evolving dance form. It's the forerunner and influencer behind American styles of Salsa, along with many other Latin dance styles, so when you master Casino, you will find other Latin dances much easier to learn.

Build on your existing dance skills with these fun-filled one-hour classes with New Zealand’s own master of Cuban dance, Isbert ‘Vivio’ Ramos Mediaceja, who trained under Cuba’s great masters and is a pioneer of Cuban music and dance in New Zealand.

Each week in the Advanced Rueda class, you will learn new combinations to quickly develop a large repertoire of dance moves; discover body movement, timing and musicality techniques, not to mention the numerous social and wellbeing benefits. There will also be some opportunities to learn to ‘call’ the Rueda.

Our students come from all walks of life, from 18 to 70-something and countries around the world. We are family and would love you to be part of our beautiful dance community who enjoy pop-up dance workshops, and live music and dance events, including our bands' Ke lo Ke and Vivio & Friends, a Flashmob Rueda crew, and numerous festivals and parties...

WHO ARE THESE RUEDA DANCE CLASSES DESIGNED FOR?

1. If you've completed The Cuban Groove’s Intermediate-level classes, or;

2. You’re an Advanced level Rueda dancer from another school and you want to learn new moves and develop your techniques, or:

3. You’re an Advanced Linear Salsa (LA, NY, etc) dancer who want to learn Cuban-style Salsa/Casino, we recommend coming to an Intermediate class first to gain the essential techniques before jumping up into this class.

4. You want to join our Flashmob Rueda crew and dance Rueda at our live music and dance events.

We welcome you on this exciting dancing adventure together!

DATE, TIME & LOCATION: Wednesdays @ 8.30pm

NB: there are no classes on 31 July. We also run Beginners’ Salsa and Intro to Rueda classes for Improvers at 6.30pm, and 7.30pm classes for Improvers to Intermediate-level dancers.

LOCATION: Lecture Hall, Grey Lynn Library, 474 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland.

PARKING: There is free off-street parking in front of the hall.

PRICES:

$25 — Casual class

$84 — 4 classes concession card ($21 per class, save $16)

$160 — 8 classes concession card ($20 per class, save $40)

$228 — 12 classes concession card ($19, save $72)

TO BOOK CLASSES: Book online via the 'Tickets' link. If you order a concession card, we will give it you before your first class so please arrive 5 minutes early to collect.

SCROLL BELOW FOR INFORMATION ABOUT CLASSES AND WHAT WE DO.

If you have more questions, PLEASE CONTACT US BY CLICKING THE BUTTON BELOW, or DIRECT MESSAGE US via FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM, or EMAIL CUBANOS@GMAIL.COM.

TO STAY UP-TO-DATE about upcoming classes and events, ‘Like’ and ‘Follow’ The Cuban Groove on Facebook and Instagram. For direct up-to-the-minute info, please ask to join our Messenger and WhatsApp groups.

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YOUR TEACHER

Vivio teaches authentic Cuban dances that are inclusive of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. With more than 40 years' experience, Vivio has trained 1,000s of dance students around the South Pacific region, and at least a dozen dance teachers. For 20 years, he worked as a professional dancer, including principal dancer for Danza Contemporánea de Cuba, which revolutionised modern dance in Cuba.

Vivio dancing Rueda de Casino (Cuban Salsa) with dance students. The Cuban Groove. — Vivio dancing Rueda de Casino (Cuban Salsa) with students. Aotearoa Cuban Festival, Rotorua. Image: Dove Photography

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FAQs >>>

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO CLASS?

Be as relaxed or as stylish as you want as long as you feel comfortable. As an indicator, many students tend to wear flat-soled sneakers, stretchy or loose jeans/ trousers, or leggings; and practical tops, but come in whatever makes you feel good!

DO I NEED TO BRING ANYTHING TO CLASS?

Bring a water bottle and a gym towel.

WHAT ARE THE FACILITIES LIKE?

We dance in a 1924 Neo-Georgian building designed by famous NZ architect, William Henry Gummer, who trained at the Royal Academy of Arts in London and designed the old Auckland Railway Station. Originally a public lecture hall, it is now a community space and features a polished timber floor that is perfect for dancing. There’s also a kitchen to top up your water bottle, and toilets are available inside the hall.

WHAT IF I STUDIED RUEDA ELSEWHERE OR A LONG TIME AGO?

If you are new to The Cuban Groove, we recommend that you contact us to discuss which level will suit you.

WHAT IS THE HISTORY BEHIND CUBAN SALSA?

Salsa’s primary cultural lineage lies in Cuba within a 1950s dance called Casino that arose from other Cuban dances, Son and Cha-Cha-Cha, which link back to another dance called Danzon, which arose from a combination of 19th-century European contradanzas and African rhythms. Cuba has an incredible and beautiful lineage of music and dances that live on in the dances we do today, such as Casino, Rueda, Son, Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba, Afro-Cuban Orishas, Mambo, Bolero and Cubaton

WHAT ARE THE TEACHER'S QUALIFICATIONS?

Vivio is a fully qualified dance teacher who trained under numerous masters of dance in Havana and is a pioneer of Cuban music and dance in New Zealand. He has taught 1,000s of students and more than a dozen teachers since he settled in Aotearoa in 2002.

Vivio first learnt to dance in his hometown Guantanamo City at a young age, before being selected at aged 11 to learn ballet, contemporary and Cuban folkloric dances at the prestigious National School of Performing Arts (ENA) in Havana. After graduating seven years later, Vivio worked as a professional dancer for 21 years, including principal dancer for leading companies like Danza Contemporánea de Cuba and Lady Salsa, which toured all over the world, and Ballet de Camagüey in Cuba. He also choreographed and performed in the Cuban Carousel, which toured Aotearoa.

Vivio loves to share his knowledge and passion for dance with his students, whatever your level, to give you depth of knowledge about Cuban dance and a broad range of dancing experience.

CAN I LEARN TO DANCE PRIVATELY WITH THE CUBAN GROOVE?

Yes! Private tuition is a great way to fast-track your learning, clean up your styling and techniques, and more gain confidence on the dance floor, whether you’re an individual or a group. Please contact us for details about private classes via DM or email cubanos@gmail.com

WHERE CAN I GO SOCIAL DANCING?

There are regular Salsa social nights held around Auckland and The Cuban Groove organises parties and events, and features in festivals around New Zealand.

Find out more by Liking or Following us on Facebook and Instagram —@thecubangroove

Our bands Ke lo Ke and Vivio & Friends perform beautiful Cuban rhythms perfect for dancing, so check them out too — @kelokeband.

DO YOU TEACH OTHER CUBAN DANCES?

Yes, we run pop-up workshops in Rumba, Son, Cha-Cha-Cha and Afro-Cuban Orishas dances, and more, so follow us or contact us for details about the next masterclasses.

We welcome you to join us on this exciting dancing adventure!

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Drop us a line if you have any questions or email cubanos@gmail.com

Vivio leading a 'follow me' dance at the Aotearoa Cuban Festival, Rotorua. Photograph: Dove Photography" width="645.4623655913978" height="430" data-image="3fs8630cligm" style="width: 645.462px; height: 430px;">Vivio leading a 'follow me' dance at the Aotearoa Cuban Festival, Rotorua. Image: Dove Photography — Vivio leading a 'follow me' dance at the Aotearoa Cuban Festival, Rotorua. Image: Dove Photography

The Cuban Groove's Flashmob Rueda crew after performing in Auckland CBD to celebrate World Rueda Day 2024.

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