NEW Beginner Rueda w/ Performance Intensive Series Starting after Memorial Day - Tues May 31st

Get ready to step into performance as a beginner! Yes, Maritza is starting a NEW 3 Week (9 sessions) rueda classes series and is changing it up! This will be a Blended Level 1 through 3 Beginners Rueda de Casino Instruction which leads to a performance at the Vintana Restaurant in Escondido at the near end of the 3-week session. There are NO Drop-ins and NO make up classes for this series. This need to be a 100% commitment to perform at the end of the series. Yes, the pressure to perform will actually add fuel to the fire to learn the dance. No worries, this performance is structured and choreographed.

This class set up for new Cuban Salsa Dancers who:
- Have no dancing experience
- Have not yet found the beat
- Have taken a break from weekly classes and attended sporadically
- Are casino follows but now want to learn to lead
- Are casino leads but now want to learn to follow
- Are salseros (On-1, LA Style, In-line salsa dancers, New York style, On-2)
- Need a review of basic moves for muscle memory sake (so as not to ruin a rueda in a social setting)


NEW BLENDED BEGINNER LEVEL WITH PERFORMANCE INTENSIVE SERIES
(9 classes in 3 weeks) with performance call at a public event

1st intensive week After Memorial Day

• Tuesday May 31st - 6pm-7:30pm @ a private studio in Escondido
• Wednesday June 1st - 6pm-7pm @ Vintana Restaurant for casino lesson(public invite)
• Thursday June 2nd - 6pm-7:30pm @ a private studio in Escondido
• Friday June 3rd - 6:30pm-8:30pm outside at Maple Street Plaza (public invite)

2nd week

• Tuesday, June 7th 6pm-7:30pm - @ a private studio in Escondido
• Wednesday, June 8th 6pm-8pm @ a private studio in Escondido

3rd week

• Tuesday, June 14th 6pm-7:30pm @ a private studio in Escondido
• Wednesday, June 15th 6pm-7pm @ Vintana Restaurant casino lesson (performance from the class)
• Friday, June 17th 6:30pm-8:30pm @ Oceanside Pier (public invite) celebrate...the series is over!

$40.00 per person. There are NO Drop-ins and NO make up classes for this series. Click this link to register for the intensive class series.

Una Bulla!!

SAVE THE DATE! Tiki Timba Boat Party (12th Anniversary Rueda in the Park Celebration) - Sat. July 23rd

Celebrating their 12th Anniversary, Rueda in the Park's Griffith Park Chapter in conjunction with the amazing DJ Ricubana will help get the party started.
* Boarding will start approximately 30 minutes before the Boat is scheduled to set away for some Tiki Timba adventures.

We will be in time to watch the Sunset go down and party Tiki Timba Style! We only will have 120 tickets for sale, so if you want in on the fun, get them while they hot.

** And if its your birthday month of July and you are going to party with us Tiki Timba style (show us your id) and you will get Lei'd.

Tickets will go on sale the first weekend of June. More information to come. So stay tuned...same tiki timba time, same tiki timba channel.

Here are the details:
What: Cuban Dance Party on a Boat Celebrating 12 years of Rueda in the Park Organization
When: Saturday, July 23, 2016
Where: Info will come out in June---stay tuned
Cost: Info will come out in June---stay tuned

Rueda en la Playa at Moonlight Beach - Sun May 29th

Rueda en la playa is Tim Snedeker's Sunday Rueda class only its held at the beach. This was done at the request of those that attend class. Those who come will get instruction, review and practice of Rueda patterns, and as always, there will be lots of Rueda dancing to music. It is very casual and lots of fun!

Here are the details:
What: Rueda class at the Beach (taught by Tim Snedeker)
When: Sunday, May 29, 2016 from 5pm-7:30pm
Where: Moonlight State Beach, Click here for Google directions
Cost: Free

Friday Rueda Practica at Maple Street Plaza (Cruising Grand Invasion) - Fri. May 27th

Greetings Amigos Y Casineros,
Wanted to invite you all to our rueda practice today (Friday, May 27th) at Maple Street Plaza. This is a FREE meet up. I will start off with a little warm up (yoga stretches with body movement warm up. Then, teaching 5 simple moves: 

• siete
• enchufla con dos manos y exhibela, 
• sombrero y casate
• enchufla con ronde
• setenta Cubano

Here are the details:

What: Meet Up for a Beginner's level 2-3 rueda practice

When: Friday, May 27, 2016 from 6pm-8pm

Where: Maple Street Plaza in Escondido: Click here for Google directions 

(see pictures above for reference)

WHERE TO PARK: Park across from US Bank next to Maple Street Plaza - 125 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025
NOTE: There is the Cruzin' Grand Classic Car event going on so parking may be hard to find but you can park across from Maple Street Plaza in the Center for the Arts Parking Lot and walk over (allow 10 minutes of walking time if you do this). 

Ride the Timba Mob Bus! - Sat. July 9th

COME ALONG AND TAKE A RIDE ON THE TIMBA MOB BUS!  This will be an experience YOU don't want to miss! Casineros, we will be on board an open top double decker bus touring San Diego stopping and preforming flash mob ruedas at various locations.

The ride will cost $40 pre sale and $45 day of ride. To save you $s on ticket fees, this is a cash/check deal. We have added ability to take credit card online, which has a service fee. Click here to purchase your tickets online. You MUST be on the going list before July 8th. Contact Roi Brignac to arrange payment at 760 453-8515.

Food and drinks (water, Cuba Libres, mojitos & beer) will be provided. We will provide a food selection menu soon. We are limiting the capacity to 50 casineros/riders. If we get more than 50 people wanting to go, we can look into scheduling another bus. We will need another 50 riders to obtain another bus. First come first serve basis. 

------- Schedule -------
3:00pm - Arrive at Town & County Convention Center; 500 Hotel Cir N, San Diego, CA 92108
3:30pm - Board the Timba MOB bus and have a GREAT time touring San Diego dancing Rueda with good & new friends!
7:30pm - Return to Town & Country Convention Center
----------------------------
*Please be prompt because the bus will be leaving at 3:30pm sharp-ish. We will not wait.

FYI....Noche Cubana is happening that night so the dance party continues! Details to come!

San Diego's 1st TIMBA-THON!

San Diego's 1st TIMBA-THON!  Join us for a night in Timba heaven with Casino Line-Dances, Plenty of room for Ruedas, Timba suelta and even Conga lines...why not?!!!  Plus a Couples Casino Dance Contest!!

The Casino Dance Contest is couples only.  Choreography isn't required, but if you have one, show us what you've got!  We just want to know who can Timbear' the best!  No applications needed. Just let us know at the door if you want to participate as contestants, and you'll be assigned a number. Dance Contest will start at 8pm. If you plan to participate, please arrive before then.

*Dance Contest Winners get Tickets to LOS VAN VAN June 5th San Diego concert at Music Box!!!
And don't miss a Santiago-style Conga-line at 7pm with Juan Carlos Blanco and Omo Ache's Percussion & Dance ensemble.  

TIMBA-THON is also the official closing party for the Cuba Today! Cuba Hoy! gallery exhibit.  You'll be movin' and groovin' to the best Timba music surrounded by beautiful Cuban artwork and photography.  Last chance to see this collection!  There will also be tasty Cuban snacks and light refreshments available for purchase.

This is a family-friendly, all-ages event!
All children must be supervised by adult/guardian.

What: TIMBA-THON
When: Sunday, May 29th, 5pm-10pm
Where: Centro Cultural de la Raza, 2004 Park Blvd. SD, CA 92101
Admission: $5  (at door)
More Info @ omoachecubanculture.org
Questions about dance contest or event, call us: (619) 520-8353

NEW Beginner Rueda w/ Performance Intensive Series Starting after Memorial Day - Tues May 31st

Get ready to step into performance as a beginner! Yes, Maritza is starting a NEW 3 Week (9 sessions) rueda classes series and is changing it up! This will be a Blended Level 1 through 3 Beginners Rueda de Casino Instruction which leads to a performance at the Vintana Restaurant in Escondido at the near end of the 3-week session. There are NO Drop-ins and NO make up classes for this series. This need to be a 100% commitment to perform at the end of the series. Yes, the pressure to perform will actually add fuel to the fire to learn the dance. No worries, this performance is structured and choreographed.

This class set up for new Cuban Salsa Dancers who:
- Have no dancing experience
- Have not yet found the beat
- Have taken a break from weekly classes and attended sporadically
- Are casino follows but now want to learn to lead
- Are casino leads but now want to learn to follow
- Are salseros (On-1, LA Style, In-line salsa dancers, New York style, On-2)
- Need a review of basic moves for muscle memory sake (so as not to ruin a rueda in a social setting)


NEW BLENDED BEGINNER LEVEL WITH PERFORMANCE INTENSIVE SERIES
(9 classes in 3 weeks) with performance call at a public event

1st intensive week After Memorial Day

• Tuesday May 31st - 6pm-7:30pm @ a private studio in Escondido
• Wednesday June 1st - 6pm-7pm @ Vintana Restaurant for casino lesson(public invite)
• Thursday June 2nd - 6pm-7:30pm @ a private studio in Escondido
• Friday June 3rd - 6:30pm-8:30pm outside at Maple Street Plaza (public invite)

2nd week

• Tuesday, June 7th 6pm-7:30pm - @ a private studio in Escondido
• Wednesday, June 8th 6pm-8pm @ a private studio in Escondido

3rd week

• Tuesday, June 14th 6pm-7:30pm @ a private studio in Escondido
• Wednesday, June 15th 6pm-7pm @ Vintana Restaurant casino lesson (performance from the class)
• Friday, June 17th 6:30pm-8:30pm @ Oceanside Pier (public invite) celebrate...the series is over!

$40.00 per person. There are NO Drop-ins and NO make up classes for this series. Click this link to register for the intensive class series.

Una Bulla!!

Casinero Invasion at TGIF Jazz at the Park feat. Boogaloo Assassins (Latin, salsa, soul) in Carlsbad - Fri, July 22nd

Get ready for an incredible summer full of Cuban salsa dancing opportunities! City of Carlsbad TGIF Jazz at the Park just posted their schedule and here is the first featured latin group: Boogaloo Assassins (Latin, salsa,soul). If you want to hear theses guys, they are awesome! Click this link to hear one of their their song videos. As part of my weekly Friday class social dance meet up, we will be at this event to practice and dance with our rueda de casino friends! You don't want to miss this!

Here are the details:

WHAT: Carlsbad TGIF Jazz at the Park Casinero Invasion with Boogaloo Assassins - Latin, salsa Soul

WHEN: Friday, July 22, 2016 6pm-8pm Field opens at 4pm

WHERE:  Poinsettia Community Park - 6600 Hidden Valley Road, 92011 

Concert site is located at ball field #1.

HOW TO PREPARE: Bring chairs, blankets, some picnic snacks and drinks (yes you can bring wine/beer)

We will be on the grass closest to 1st base on the baseball field. 

PARKING: It is advisable to use the shuttle buses - Parking and shuttle information.

Free shuttle service will operate between 4:30 and 9 p.m. from North Coast Calvary Chapel, 1330 Poinsettia Lane at Aviara Parkway. Enter the parking lot at the stoplight intersection of Aviara Parkway and Camino de las Ondas.  Poinsettia Park map

Salsa Bachata Timba Night at Vintana Restaurant in Escondido - Wed. June 1st

After a successful Salsa Bachata Timba Night at Vintana in Escondido last Friday (May 13th), the management was so pleased that they want to do it again. It will be a Wednesday night but reasonably set so you can still wake up the next morning to go to work! So plan it out to dance after work! This venue is top notch classy, elegant and it's outside on the top patio deck. A great place to dance! Next one is June 1st!

Here are the details:
WHAT:  Salsa Bachata Timba Night at Vintana Wine & Dine in Escondido (North County)
WHEN:  Wednesday, June 1, 2016
        5:00-6:00pm - Happy Hour
        6:00-7:00pm - Mini Cuban salsa lesson
        7:00-9:00pm - Social dancing
WHERE: Vintana Restaurant 3rd, 1205 Auto Park Way, Escondido, CA 92029
COST: FREE but please buy some drinks to keep the management happy for future dance nights like this!

Salsa On The Beach in San Diego (All Salsa Styles) - Sun May 22nd

Greetings Casineros!
The Summer events are starting to pick up! Just found out that there is a New salsero living in San Diego who moved out here and has brought a great tradition back from the East Coast...Salsa On The Beach! A few weeks ago, they had  their first event and it was a hit! AND, there was rueda de casino there. All Salsa styles are welcome, that means we can break out our casino, rueda and timba, salsa suelta! Let support this integrated effort.

Here is the description from Facebook from the Salsa On The Beach San Diego Facebook Event Page:

It was so much fun to meet, dance, eat, play music, and chill with you all at the first SOTB San Diego event.
Once again, there will be salsa, cha cha, and bachata music being played. There will be a salsa footwork class, casino rueda class, and bachata rueda. Yes you heard right, bachata rueda. This is a free event. Everyone please bring a dish or appetizer. Please post what you are bringing. I'll bring a small charcoal grill if you want to cook meat or anything.

I recommend wearing Tom's or watershoes to protect the soles of your feet for dancing. This event will be located the same location as the first event: in Crown Point area of Pacific Beach in San Diego.
GPS coordinates: 32.782302, -117.233180
There's free parking and bathrooms there.

This event is to bring all salseros from different dance companies and all ages together beginner to advanced for a fun day enjoying the beach, sun, and of course dancing. Bring the kids. Bring the family. With the event getting bigger, i only ask everyone to throw away their trash and be respectful of one another. With that said, see you all there!

Salsa + Beach + Good People = :)

Here are the details:

WHAT: Salsa On The Beach San Diego

WHEN: Sunday, May 22, 2016 1pm-8pm

WHERE: Crown Point area of Pacific Beach in San Diego  - Use this Google Link for exact location

HOW TO PREPARE: Bring some food and drinks to share. Anything for the grill if you wish.

Casinero Invasion at Vintana Restaurant in Escondido for their NEW Salsa Bachata Timba Night on Friday May 13th

Greetings Casineros and Timberos,
We are finally going to have a Friday night dancing opportunity here in our own neighborhood! The Vintana Restaurant is going to have a launch salsa/bachata/timba/merengue dance night this Friday, May 13th! DJ Ortega welcomes all music (an integrated night so we CAN hear Cuban music mixed in his playlist). They asked me to teach a quick Cuban salsa class to get people moving. If you haven't been to this place, it is really classy. Sit on the top floor of the Lexus dealership. Let's gather together this Friday for happy hour a little dance lesson and dancing until they kick us out!

Here are the details:
WHAT:  Salsa Night (Casinero Meet Up for Ruedas on the Patio Deck)
WHEN: Friday, May 13th 6pm-9pm
      5-6pm - Happy Hour (Check the menu for Happy Hour specials)
      6-6:45pm - Cuban Salsa dance lesson by Maritza
      6:45 -9pm - Social dancing (ruedas, salsa sueltas, once-on-one casino)
WHERE: Vintana Restaurant 3rd, 1205 Auto Park Way, Escondido, CA 92029
COST: FREE but please buy some drinks to keep the management happy for future dance nights like this!

1st Annual San Diego Cuban Dance Congress

CALLING ALL CASINEROS WORLD WIDE TO ATTEND SAN DIEGO'S 1ST CUBAN DANCE CONGRESS. THIS CONGRESS IS GOING TO BE OFF THE HOOK AND YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS AMAZING EVENT!

BUY your congress passes now! Also, hotel rooms ($119) are based on availability and first come basis, hurry and reserve your room today! Just mention "Cuban Dance Congress". There are many nearby hotels close to venue too. BOOK TODAY!

Four workshop tracks
- SON
- Casino
- Rueda de Casino
- Rumba
- Afro-Cuban
- Cubaton
- and more...
Special beginners intensive track - you will leave wanting more!
Timba Boat Party
Timba Mob Bus
Timba Happy Hour
Two live bands (Friday & Saturday nite)
DANCING * DANCING * DANCING

Performances - if you want to perform, contact us.

All details are on the website: http://CubanDanceCongress.com/

Be sure to LIKE our Facebook page as we will be posting latest happenings and information to keep you up to date on the congress. View our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/CubanDanceCongress

Los Van Van Concert in SAN DIEGO at the Music Box - Sun. June 5th

My birthday wish came true. Los Van Van is coming to San Diego to the Music Box. This is going to be a big turn out of people. Calling all Cuban music fanatics! Get your tickets now! This is going to be huge!!

Here are the details:
WHAT: Direct from Cuba Los Van Van Live Concert
WHEN: Sunday, June 5, 2016 Doors open at 6:30pm, Show is at 8pm
WHERE: The Music Box: 1337 India St., San Diego, CA 92101
COST: $35.00  NO FEE TICKETS: Available at Music Box Monday-Friday 10AM-4PM (except for $3 building fee on all tickets)
To buy tickets online, click this link. There will be a $4.22 service fee on top of the $35

Funday Friday Rueda Practice & Continual Birthday Celebration for Maritza & Tim - Fri. May 6th

Greetings San Diego Casineros!

Come dance outside with us in Oceanside. Rueda at the Oceanside Pier. This is a public rueda practice and a social time. Tim Snedeker and Maritza are still celebrating their birthday week. We know that not everyone was able to come and join us in LA for Cubamania but at least we can all share a meal together in beautiful Oceanside.  All casineros are welcome no matter what level. Just come for some dancing and to break bread with some friends.

Here are the details

WHAT: Rueda Practice Meet Up....San Diego Style....OUTSIDE

WHEN: Friday, May 6, 2016 6:30pm-8:30pm+

WHERE: Meet us in front of Wheel Fun Rentals on the other side (NORTH side) of the Pier. Click this map link for directions.

HOW TO PREPARE: Wear layers, flat shoes you don't mind scuffing. We will be on north side of the Pier on the concrete.  Bring water. We will all go share a meal together in Oceanside afterwards.