ritmosindy wiki / Tips and Move Explanations

Rueda Rules to Remember - some tips from Russ Hamer

Some terms --> LE=leader, FO=follower , dqn="dile que no" (= cross-body lead, XBL)

Unless otherwise specified, all turns refer to the follower's turn

Counts (1-2-3, 5-6-7) refer to beats of 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..

Some general "rules" for LEs & FOs that will help the Rueda flow:

Think small, no big ballroom steps, especially backwards. Be aware of your space and the local ebb and flow of your movements relative to your nearest neighbors, as well as to the Rueda as a whole.
In each exchange of partners, right after the LE has left (but before the new LE has arrived), FOs should be facing the center of the Rueda, ready to step back on "1" (R foot), out of the Rueda .
Don't rush! The lead is on "5", not before! When the LEs arrive to pick up the new FO, both LEs & FOs must resist the tendency to rush -- FOs do not rush ahead on 2-3 to try to go to the next LE. They are supposed to come to you! LEs do not lead the followers in the "dile que no" (XBL) until "5". The whole Rueda suspends motion on all the "slows" of the "quick-quick-slow" Salsa pattern. Maintain a good connection with each partner. Some resistance in the arms helps, and remember that hands are so important -- both LEs and FOs should keep the fingers bent in a firm, but not tightly closed, "hook" so the connection can be maintained. FOs should keep hands available, near your waist.
Listen and watch! Often it is hard to hear the leader of the Rueda call the moves, especially out in a loud club setting. So most of the calls have hand-signals too. Hence, LEs will have to learn how to execute the moves while keeping their eyes on the caller.
Leaders and followers help each other! If you see that someone missed the call, call it out for them.

A downloadable list of some rueda moves and their descriptions:

ritmosindy