You can find the description of our regular dance courses down below.
For private lessons, entertainment programs for companies (corporate events), hen/stag parties or other custom-tailored offers for individuals or groups please contact us at office@cubailaviena.at
1. Cuban Salsa Basics for all U30 (or U20)
Our Cuban Salsa Basics courses comprise 15 weekly sessions of 60 minutes each in which you learn the basics of Casino (Cuban salsa in couples) and Rueda de Casino (couples together in a group). The focus lies on the dance techniques of the first turn patterns, which will form the basis of more complex dance sequences at later levels, as well as leading & following, i.e. the techniques of leading (leader) and letting yourself be led (follower) when dancing. We get to know you (and the other way round), facilitate and help with your first steps in this new dance and monitor your progress and dedication so that at the end of the semester we can advise (and also decide) if advancing directly to the next level seems sensible (=is possible) or if we should recommend additional practice between the semesters or also repeating the course in order to master the basics so well that something new can be built on them.
2. Casino Basics 2
At the second basics level, the course comprises 15 weekly sessions of 90 minutes each. In an extensive warmup you learn and practice body isolations, which form the basis of using your entire body (shoulders, torso, hip) when dancing. And of course you expand your repertoire in Casino and Rueda de Casino with new turn patterns.
3. Casino Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, Advanced 1, Advanced 2
After Casino Basics 2, Casino in couples and Rueda de Casino are split into separate courses at increasing levels with 15 weekly sessions of 60 minutes each. These courses focus on ever more complex turn patterns and increasingly also on musicality (=consideration of musical elements in dancing) as well as, in Rueda de Casino, also on learning to call the figures as "cantante". These higher levels increasingly incorporate also other, often more open Cuban dance elements from Rumba, Reggeaton, Son (dancing on contratiempo) and also Afrocuban dances into the dancing of Casino.
If a group wants to continue dancing together after Advanced 2, they pick their own group name and keep on developing together. Groups with too few participants subsequently join together with another long-term group.
4. Cuban Lady/Man Style (Estilo)
Styling courses for women / followers and men / leaders are solo courses in Timba, i.e. Casino (Cuban salsa) with elements of Rumba, Son, Afro and Reggaeton. The Basics courses focus on learning and practicing body isolations, which form the basis of full-body expression in dancing. In a second step, the first typical feminine or masculine styling elements are learned – solo step sequences, turns and first hip, shoulder, arm and torso moves. The more advanced the level, the more challenging the individual moves and step sequences become ---- all the way to complex choreographies to be filmed or performed as shows. We recommend starting with styling courses in combination with Basics 2 or Intermediate 1 levels.
5. Rumba Guaguancó
Musical elements of Guaguancó appear very frequently in the popular Cuban dance music of Timba, so recognizing them and incorporating Rumba in your Cuban dancing is essential. Besides, the general flow of Cuban dancing and very many styling moves come from Rumba. Every Rumba course comprises 15 sessions of 60 minutes each. There you first learn the basics, the flow and the body movement of Guaguancó, followed by more complex sequences and also dancing in couples. You can find more info on Rumba in our dance guide.
Musical elements of Guaguancó appear very frequently in the popular Cuban dance music of Timba, so recognizing them and incorporating Rumba in your Cuban dancing is essential. Besides, the general flow of Cuban dancing and very many styling moves come from Rumba. Every Rumba course comprises 15 sessions of 60 minutes each. There you first learn the basics, the flow and the body movement of Guaguancó, followed by more complex sequences and also dancing in couples.
You can find more info on Rumba in our dance guide.
6. Reggaeton/Reparto
Reggaeton or its Cuban variants Cubaton and Reparto are modern urban dances that are currently popular around the world and danced solo. Reggaeton elements can sometimes be found in Timba, but primarily in commercial salsa, with which they form the style Salsaton/Timbaton. In the 15-week Reggaeton/Reparto courses of 60 minutes each you first learn the body isolations of Reggaeton, which are very big, precise and energetic. The more advanced the level, the more challenging the steps, moves and choreographies become here as well.
You can find more info on Reggaeton in our dance guide.
7. Son Cubano
Casino developed from Son Cubano, which is why this dance lingers below the surface in many Timbas. Son Cubano is an elegant couples dance which, from a European perspective, is danced "on 2" or "contratiempo". A good Cuban dance party cannot go without its music. Many Timbas are structured such that they can/should at least in part be danced contratiempo, for which Son skills are also useful. In the 15-week Basics level you first learn the rhythm, dancing "on 2" and first steps and turn patterns. Further levels include more challenging turn patterns all the way to tornillos.
You can find more info on Son Cubano in our dance guide.
8. Afro
Traditional Afrocuban dances are highly diverse and have been celebrated on Cuba for centuries in both religion and folklore. Apart from an increasing number of Timba songs including Afro sequences which demand authentic interpretation in dance, Afrocuban dances offer an energetic pool of inspiring moves that may enrich the styling of every Cuban dance. Our Afro courses – primarily various Orishás of the Yorubá – change their content/focus every five weeks and can be attended throughout the semester (3x5hrs) or per 5h-block.
You can find more info on Afro in our dance guide.