My May 2016 trip to Cuba was literally a dream come true: mixing music, dance, and
history lessons. After 16 years of dancing, teaching and promoting ‘Rueda de
Casino’ (or simply ‘Casino’) in the U.S., I got to meet those in Cuba who
helped create my favorite group dance form.
During pre-revolution days, the Fundadores (‘Founders’ in English) couldn’t
enter Havana’s Casino Deportivo social club to dance due to discrimination in
1957, even though the club was owned by a man of mixed race. In the video the
president of the Fundadores, Juan "El Abuelo" Gomez, describes how
the early Rueda de Casino turns and calls started as just a fun game among
friends. Gomez credits the movie, "Rock Around the Clock" as having a
huge influence on these early Casino dancers. (NOTE:
Clips from the "Rock Around the Clock” movie are included in the Fundadores profile video
by MetaMovements below.)
Essentially, Rock and Roll music (and the rock-step) in the late 50s,
combined with Son and Salsa music in Cuba, to create what we now know as Rueda
de Casino. After the revolution, all Cubans were allowed to enter the Cuban
social clubs to dance. As a result, Casino dancing spread throughout their
country as people travelled for work and play. Rueda de Casino emerged in the
U.S. with a strong presence in Florida and California, as well as in Italy
abroad. It has continued to spread around the world the same way as it did in
Cuba, by learning one step/rueda call at a time.
Attached is a video of the Founders interview and of the Founders
dancing their earliest moves. It’s just over an hour long, but I hope you’ll
take the time to enjoy the oral history as much as our dance group (led by the
DC Casineros) did on May 7, 2016 in Havana, Cuba.
Fundadores
Dancing in a Havana Nightclub for Us (3:40) – https://vimeo.com/166423109
Fundadores profile
video by MetaMovements (4:14) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgJkcqprl9I&feature=youtu.be
