THE WARM-UP: Basic Steps for Casino // 'Cuban Salsa'

A casino warm-up comprised of basic steps that you'll use everywhere in the dance. They emphasize stepping under your center in cadence, controlling your weight, and making clean pivots.

• 2-step
• paso de son
• back rocks
• back crosses
• walking and pivoting
• forward and back
• side step
• cross in front and back
• side cross

* * * Big thanks to PALO for the music! * * *

Song: "Al Monte" by PALO!

[used with permission]

Song: "La Habana Buena" by PALO!



[used with permission]

Song: "Araña" by PALO!

[MessinaDance]

This is the warm up that I run every class through to get them walking and pivoting as those are very foundational steps in casino, especially regarding enchufa turns.

The points of walking an pivoting are:
1. Aim to step underneath your center on the first step. The emphasize of movement should be on the second and third steps as you see in rumba and other afro-cuban dances. This also answers many questions such as "where do I step on the first step for dile que no, or enchufa, or vacila..." As a follow, if you aim to step so that you are not dictating where your center goes, the lead can act a force upon you that will cause you to move forward, or a little bit back, and if not... in place! As a lead, this will help your dancing to be more compact and allow you incorporate movement as well as dance to faster tempos.

2. Change the weight FULLY with each step. 100% of the weight should be on whatever foot is stepping. This helps with too many things to list but it is also the way the dance is supposed to look.


3. Save the pivots for the end (third step going into the 4th beat/pause) This will help give that relaxed feel you see in dancing as well as to help hold the pauses.

4. Practice facing the direction you pivot towards. Your feet and chest and face should all point in the same direction for walking and pivoting. You achiece this by spotting (looking where you're going) and engaging your core. Leave the weightless foot chambered at the ankle until you are facing the new direction so you don't get tripped up when the pivots are bigger. These are body mechanics that lead to a very confident look especially used by follows

ENJOY!

[lbafs]

Its not only want you teach but also the choice of music you play with the exercises. It just adds that extra motivating dimension. Muchas Gracias

[inemupung]

Sending you love from Lagos, Nigeria 🇳🇬. You are super amazing, your videos are very easy to understand, I’m a salsa newbie

[teresai]

By the way, I'm Nigerian and watching these dance videos especially the "rumba" hand moves, this seems so similar to ancient Ekombi dance of the Efik people of Southeastern Nigeria. As I was practicing especially the front/back cross steps, the spinning/pivoting, I thought, "Wow, this is like Ekombi!" The Efik are a minority group, so at weddings people love to invite Efik dancers to perform the Ekombi dance because it is so special and only the Efiks can dance it. (I'm Ibibio and we are closely related to the Efiks). Thanks for the great videos!

[NikaraTOP]

This is genius! I never learned so quickly! You are amazing! Thank You much!

[leventeczakoi]

An extremely delicate taste and selection of music... just wow... <3

[yoshiSBX]

I can’t believe i didn’t come across these videos sooner - they’re the best!

Clear to understand & fun to watch!

I’ve been wanting to do salsa for half a lifetime & finally now it makes sense.

Thanks!

[teresai]

Thank you so much. I always wanted to learn Cuban salsa and now I finally have. God bless!

[LakbayHulaNgSaliwNgBuhay]

Wow!!!! I love you were able to devise this method of teaching. I am learning!!!! I have been teaching salsa for 20 years and wanted my students to start first learning the Son, Casino first.

[KapteinSabeltan]

Awesome video!! High quality editing and you are just born to teach👌👌

[rich]

Great warmup bro, my footwork is getting awesome!

[robstone]

Okay this was great ready for the next. Feels like on 1 salsa to me so no problem so far. thanks!

[TracyTheRed]

This warms my heart in such trying times. I will use this to be ready to dance again, whenever that may be.

[lauratangangco]

Awesome! Instruction is simple and fun. There's no way you won't learn how to dance. Fantastic!!!

[Ikanant]

Candela! Pro video right here!! Nicely done 🤩

[awithplus]

Hi there!
I've seen you were talking about style preferences in your country. We are dancing Cuban salsa in Tomsk, Siberia 😁
Thank you for your job

[leeedmunds]

I like your teaching style dude, nice and systematic!

[pilove]

Really Awesome Instruction.... Totally sharing!! Love.

[chiclayanito]

Thanks for all the master explanation, time & effort you put on all your videos. Greetings from the other side of the continente !!!! Keep up with your videos !!!! Kiitos paljon !!!!

[Ed-_D]

i want to live there and dance with you my life - Bravo!