5 Basic Steps for Casino ("Cuban Salsa")

This tutorial shows the first 5 basic steps I teach anyone looking to learn casino ("Cuban salsa")They are a progression that teach the timing, cadence, balance, weight transfer and movement that are required for the dance. At first, it may not seem like much, but they go a very long way in building footwork for basic turns and moves such as enchufla, dile que no, vacila, guapea, paso son and more.
The first of several basic casino tutorials aimed to serve as a resource for current and future students as well as those at a distance who have enjoyed the casino workshops and demos that our group has given.
I tried to emulate the same class experience you'd get in one of my weekly classes, thorough exploration of material accompanied by bad jokes. If you find it helpful or know others who would, please share it and check out Messina Dance Company's facebook page for more tutorials and class info: MessinaDanceCompany
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• 18 fundamental moves and turns
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• Frame and connection
• Lead/follow drills
• Turn combinations for social dancing
• A sneak peak at "Level 2"
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[@MessinaDance]

💃🕺 LEARN CASINO ONLINE 🎶 🇨🇺 🃏 Basics of Cuban Casino KZbin Playlists •.Snappy yt videos: tinyurl.com/yc4evr7z • Full 8-Class Series of Live Classes: tinyurl.com/2p9x7xmr 🎲 Casino Quick Start - $14.99 pre-order sale (ends March 15th) • learn casino in a month for 50 cents per day • videos up April 1'st 2023 🂡 pre-order: messinadance.com/casinoquickstart ♠ Casino Level 1 Full Digital Course - $95 w/ promo code KZbin • 18 fundamental moves and turns • Music & rhythm - clave, drums, bass, finding the beat • Body movement • Warm-up steps - specifically for casino • Frame and connection • Lead/follow drills • Turn combinations for social dancing • A sneak peak at "Level 2" 🃏 get the course: messinadance.com For intermediate and up: "Casino Next Level" • monthly videos on topics like adding rumba to casino, son, body movement • FAQ videos midway through the month • facebook group for topic suggestions and connecting with fellow casineros leveling up 🁲 try a month for free: messinadance.com/casinonextlevel 🤜💥🤛 📷 fb: facebook.com/MessinaDanceCompnay 🎞 insta: @MessinaDanceCompnay 🕸 messinadance.com

[@vivienmartin225]

As a Cuban, these steps are all you need to be able to survive on a Cuban dance floor. All you need is to develop that Caribbean swag😎

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks for watching

[@williamlopez8983]

Yeah that's very true, I'm cuban too and really you don't need much more than this.

[@Norawarsame]

Am random African girl trying to learn salsa, Cuban salsa to be precise. There is something keeps calling my soul when I listen to Cuban music so I decided to teach myself Spanish and learn how to dance ☀️❤️🌹

[@MessinaDance]

Check out some of the afro cuban videos :) so much more to say, but... you will learn it all on your journey anyhow. I am glad you enjoyed.

[@Norawarsame]

@@MessinaDance Thank you so much. I will ☀️🌹

[@teresai1877]

I'm Nigerian and the same thing happened to me. :-) It is because Cuban salsa and salsa in general has African roots. People from West Africa were taken to many places in the Americas including islands in the Caribbean like Cuban to work as slaves. They took our culture with them and kept it alive through dance, music, food, language, spirituality, etc.

[@darnellegarcia9611]

I have 2 left feet, your the only person that I could follow and actually catch on an learn the basic steps. Thank you so much. Your a great teacher.

[@MessinaDance]

It is truly my pleasure. Good luck and keep going!

[@702.jvlian8]

How tf u have to left feets

[@eldilemma]

@@702.jvlian8 no cus im stumped as well💀

[@fightingirish8631]

Thanks man. My dad was from Havana and I always admired how beautifully he danced; which syuch grace and confidence. At 55 yrs I have yet to learn Cuban salsa. No cookie needed... but great advice! THANK YOU BRO

[@MessinaDance]

Really happy to hear this. Thanks for sharing 🙏

[@kirstymaccallum7059]

You have a great knowledge and awareness of the correct rhythm used in Cuban salsa that many salsa teachers and dancers simply don't have. Love the user friendly style and easy progressions. Thank you😃

[@MessinaDance]

I appreciate that. Not sure where you are along your casino journey, but if starting out, I have a casino 1 video library up for members if you ever want to work through the fundamental turns.

[@casinobravotv]

Man, keep up the great work. Your explanations are really smooth and clear. You are bringing Casino back to the people!

[@MessinaDance]

I appreciate it. Thanks for watching.

[@jaymiami5813]

Very nice video I was born in Cuba and I live in Miami very professional very clean Style and you do explain step-by-step nothing like dancing Casino it has the best flavor in the world keep up the good work my friend you're doing a great job saying what's up from Miami Florida

[@MessinaDance]

Appreciate you 🙏

[@dancu9271]

A lot of thanks for making and sharing your video!!

[@KonstantyMartyniuk]

Best video for begginers! Thx

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks! Hope you'll check out the rest of the videos🙏

[@rianmonnahan]

Many thank for your video. I've danced NY for many years and have just started learning Casino style. Why? Because I sometimes find myself at parties where there are no trained NY followers. Since I'd rather switch than fight, ... I decided to take a lesson or two. I am complimenting those lessons by watching videos. Yours in particular. Your approach seems very analytical and methodical. My approach to dancing as well. So, again many many thanks for an excellent introductory video to the basic steps. Some day perhaps I will come claim my cookie. ;)

[@Aesch]

Thank you, that helps a lot of switching from line to casino! 0:00:21 basic #1 two step 0:01:58 basic #2 paso de son 0:03:28 basic #3 back rocks 0:04:33 basic #4 back cross 0:05:40 basic #5 walk & pivot

[@MessinaDance]

Check out some of the others on the casino playlist... Will be doing a video differentiating line and casino SOON!

[@quaregeg2750]

Clear and to the point! Looking forward to getting started with these moves. Thank you

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks! They're a good foundation for dancing casino. They're used and referenced frequently in the rest of the tutorial videos.

[@blubei]

Wow, awesome tutorial! I love how you built upon the basic sidestep while explaining the timing. That was extremely helpful. Thank you!

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks. These are the same steps that we use in most casino dancing. If you take a look at the other tutorials, they will use these same steps to build the turns.

[@talori5417]

Yes! I went to the SF Carnaval and decided I have got to learn the Cuban salsa!!! 💕

[@karld1791]

Great explanation of the "slow" step dragging out!

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks, boss 🙏

[@kimberlycolumbare9655]

You did a great job teaching this!

[@lekharajan]

I recently joined a Cuban singing duo and I’m Indian, learning their songs was one of a kind of a journey but learning the dance moves they do when they sing is a whole another ball game. Thank you so much for this video, you’re a really good teacher❤

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks for watching 🙏 Hope you'll check out out the full course while it is on special 🙌 www.messinadance.com/casino-1-full-digital-course

[@deborahbarry8458]

How I’d love to sing Cuban music!

[@leviakasuna2806]

Definitely gonna practice these steps cuz god damn am I tired of Not being able to dance with my girlfriend in cuba. You're not hard to understand and make it seem relatively easy so that's great! 💯

[@MessinaDance]

GOAT KZbin comment. Good luck and let me know how I can help!

[@michelletiger3903]

Great basics video! I'm an experienced salsa dancer but I struggle with my cross steps and saw what I'm doing wrong. Thank you!

[@tonih3433]

A cookie?? 🍪 😋 Me, me!!! Lol Thank you for this video

[@felipulaski7172]

This is awesome! I'm doing it as breaks with my students (Middle Schol) and they are actually learning them pretty well (Better than me!) Keep up with the work. They also want the cookies.

[@SG2010IL]

I think I just might be able to do this now 😃 Thanks!!

[@Sasha_Miladinovic]

You explain great and that is actually real knowledge. Your videos are great. Thanks.

[@MessinaDance]

Thank you! Glad you are enjoying them.

[@zimzir]

Thank you friend!!

[@amandaburgos3626]

Very good and easy explain

[@PatriceDEvans]

Hey. Nice to see you here on KZbin. 👍🏽💃🏽

[@lucyw.mcmellan7274]

Great instructional tutorial. Thank you.🥰👍🏼

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks for watching!

[@LifeChangeAdvicewithTiffany]

Fun and helpful tips. Thank you!

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks for watching!

[@everrude]

C is for cookie, that's good enough for me... 😆 Thanks for this info. I just might try more Cuban steps

[@user-oo7xo8eu1o]

Am a Cuban American girl trying to learn the art of dance and how to access this!🌸🌹🌺

[@MessinaDance]

I hope the videos are helpful 🙏 Thanks for watching!

[@nicopiedra1284]

Merci pour ça !

[@bboyva-van1095]

Bro this is super similar to house dancing. Tryna learn salsa; especially casino. Thanks for the vids bruh.

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks for watching!

[@Snezalaketa9]

Great!

[@FreeSpirit985]

Quite useful, many thanks.

[@MessinaDance]

It's my pleasure. Please let me know if there's anything you'd like to see.

[@zooberstreams]

thank you for tutorial!!! my wife will love this one LOL ROFL!!!

[@purplerocks7385]

Thanks💜

[@luisaangelinagranzotti8779]

I love your style and simple way ofcteaching. I love it. Keep teaching me. I am learning

[@MessinaDance]

I really appreciate that. I have a playlist of casino basics thay show partner moves built on these steps, hope you'll check it out.

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks for all the positive feedback on this video! It has far outperformed any other video on my fledgling channel. The steps in this video are basically a progression to establish the cadence of the dance and are a precursor to many movements in casino but parTICULARLY useful for enchufa turns. As a part 2 to this video, my next project will be to record a video dedicated to JUST enchufa turns and their variations. Please stay tuned! In the meantime, please feel free to leave any casino/cuban dance questions in the comments :) If you would like to support the channel, please consider subscribing. The channel also offers memberships with a variety of perks if you are so inclined. Thanks for all of the support.

[@ulviugur3605]

Messina Dance Company ı like Your ianguage and style of teaching. It would be really helpful to combine basic steps with a partner.

[@MessinaDance]

@@ulviugur3605 I have a few videos so far with partners. Basics of casino 1 2 and 3... hope you will check them out.

[@laurental1]

great video. thank you!

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks for watching!

[@richardg5980]

Fantastic. I think I might be able to do this.

[@MessinaDance]

For sure... doing live classes almost every day if you subscribe and turn on notifications, you won't miss em

[@normanlumhee]

Great vid, appreciated the multiple angles...new subscriber

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks for subscribing :)

[@ernestochavez3252]

your video is amazing i absolutely love it. you break down the steps and movement to a very understandable level. awesome stuff man

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks for watching

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks for watching... these are great steps to get into enchufa turns.

[@khunpingpong]

I am from Thailand, been watching many tutorial on youtube. Your vid really help us a lot. Bravo!

[@MessinaDance]

Thank you for watching! Be sure to check out this playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpDNlGRofqiniLs

[@zain07578]

Thank you!

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks for witching

[@turtle2554]

These moves are very saucy. I will learn from you

[@MessinaDance]

More saucy vids: Basic Steps for Casino // "Cuban Salsa": kzbin.info/aero/PLPJJJRWYps61gP_IqO2-87hF372fEqzEe

[@davidalen9279]

excellent grounding in the basics of casino. thank you sir!

[@mashdarr]

I love Salsa. I've been dancing for about 1 year and a half now, but I haven't had formal instruction. I just try to do what I see others doing around me (tv, youtube or in person). For about as long as I've been dancing many people have approached me asking if I'm Cuban, but I never knew why. After watching this video, I can understand why. lol I had no idea this was their style of dance.

[@MessinaDance]

Hope you will check out some of the other videos that show the partner dancing and explain the structure of the dance. It may explain what people are seeing in your dancing.

[@mashdarr]

@@MessinaDance I will. They're very helpful for me to improve my technique. Thank you!

[@lokiop345]

Very nice lesson bro

[@MessinaDance]

I appreciate it.

[@milenasterg2436]

i loved you

[@lililu5030]

this is a dopeeeeee ass starter video! thank you!!! this is my first salsa Cubano video and ill be adding it to a beginner playlist ill be starting up today! If anyone has a playlist or great beginner videos feel free to comment :D

[@MessinaDance]

I have one on my channel 💪

[@lililu5030]

@@MessinaDance ooh awesome! Thanks^.^

[@emmaibn-talalikhwan2283]

Very good and easy to follow. Thanks

[@MessinaDance]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@emmaibn-talalikhwan2283]

Thanks. I do Casino Rueda every Tuesday for 2hrs with a group of friends and I love it. I will be using your technique, if you don't mind to teach some groups in West London on 8th of June. Thanks once again

[@MessinaDance]

@@emmaibn-talalikhwan2283 the videos take a very long time to make, but I will be making one that goes through a lot of the First turns for rueda, soon! This video just gets people in the habit of stepping underneath themselves and moving, so it's a good start.

[@emmaibn-talalikhwan2283]

Beautiful. I understand they take a long time to make but you won't believe how it makes people even well seasoned dancers like me enjoy your teaching techniques

[@MessinaDance]

If you get a video on the 8th, please let me know!

[@kamillatosinski3054]

Amazing video! I have one question. I can't see these steps being used in dile que no and other more advanced movements. It seems you just walk in the rhythm without applying any of these.

[@MessinaDance]

There is a video called the warm-up that addresses those connections a little more clearly... I'll also be going live tonight if you'd like to tune in with any questions as well!

[@jackieroseeverafter-photog3232]

...I keep wondering how far I would have to travel to collect that cookie?!! ...hmmm... :-D :-D

[@Ourteamfamily]

What is the music? Great tutorial by the way

[@MessinaDance]

just a rhythm track i found on youtube... and I should have picked a slower one :) If you look up son montuno loop, you should find something.

[@MessinaDance]

For those looking to build on these basic steps, please take a look at the Casino Level 1 Full Digital Course here: messinadance.com/casino-1-full-digital-course (any sales and promo codes will be listed on the page) It includes foundational steps, complete musicality breakdown of the rhythm we dance to "son montuno" (aka salsa), and 16 fundamental turns shown partnered as well as individual lead and follow footwork, not to mention basic social turn combinations and sequences.

[@brunotamborino4670]

Great video. I would like to be able to do half of the things you do contemporarily and without efforts in this video.

[@MessinaDance]

Thank u 🙏

[@Gladiator158]

Hello man great job for all your videos. I have a question about paso de son, you dance it on1 when you begin to dance but we all know son is danced on2, you can dance this step on 1 also as you did?!

[@MessinaDance]

So the step is taken from son (danced contratiempo 234 678) and is used in casino, a natural progression from son, and is usually taught "on 1" and danced on 3... 345 781

[@Gladiator158]

@@MessinaDance thank you for the explanation keep up the good work.

[@kirstymaccallum7059]

Just want to ask what is the track used for this? It's the perfect for practicing. Especially good for people who have trouble hearing the rhythm in those fast noisy salsa songs!

[@MessinaDance]

I uses a loop I found on youtube. "Son montuno" or "salsa" or "drum and conga" loop searches should get something close. Or... I highly recommend the salsa rhythm app.

[@lililu5030]

Also I have a question, if I learn to dance cuban salsa well and I am out on the dance floor at a party, and someone dances lets say NY2 salsa, will it be easy to adjust? Or do I have to learn all the salsa styles

[@MessinaDance]

Kind of complicated answer... I will try and do a video for that. For now I would say get used to marking steps based on cadence and independent of numbers asap.

[@lililu5030]

@@MessinaDance thanks, I’ll get started on your channel!

[@cyndikehrli8389]

Thank you for the great video! I can actually follow and do the steps because you break it down and go slow

[@MessinaDance]

It's my pleasure... do you take casino/Cuban salsa classes?

[@cyndikehrli8389]

@@MessinaDance Not right now. Short on time. Always at work. But, part of my morning work out is dancing, lately to reggae. I like salsa music and want to lean the steps minus all the spinning with the partner dancing. Your videos are so helpful.

[@MessinaDance]

@@cyndikehrli8389 when you are ready, let me know where you're located and I'll do my best to find a good one for ya :) In the meantime, I'm glad the videos are working for you.

[@cyndikehrli8389]

Thank you. That's very kind of you. I'm on the west coast, northern Cal, Sonoma County. There is salsa class at the community center, but, sadly, the timing conflicts with another community group that I participate in. I walk by the class every week and it looks like so much fun! I'm hoping that our group can change our meeting to another day. Dancing is what I really need after a long day at work! Your videos are amazing- keep doing them! Your studio looks incredible. I've never been to NC, but if I'm ever in your area I will definitely take your classes. Thank you again for all you do.

[@crescentconnect2772]

I learned Salsa on2 but I am having a hard time figuring out how to find the style they call "Callejera" Or street Salsa or classic salsa. Looking at the cuban style it looks like this "classic salsa"

[@patrickehlert5909]

Where have you learned this?

[@MessinaDance]

I took paso son and made a progression to get people used to stepping under their center and then moving forward so that their casino will have the proper aesthetic.

[@mo-whack6790]

Where are you located, I want a cookie 😆

[@finalluminary3490]

I have a question to ask you. I am unable to message you directly so I apologize for posting this here. There is a move I would like to learn and i would like you to replicate it and tell me what the name of the step is. Apologies for posting a link that is not you dancing but this is my last resort. No search on google turned up anything for this move : kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZ7WkpiNebWdba8 What is the name of the move at 1:07 to 1:10. Where he has his hand up in the air and brings what I believe is his left leg or foot out then does a couple moves and brings it to crossover. Ive seen that move twice now and I’d like to replicate it but don’t know how it is called or named.

[@MessinaDance]

My best interpretation, and not sure how familiar you are with cuban dance so, I may be explaining more than I need to: He gets into it doing a "bamboleo step" where you tap on the 1 n 5 and step every other count. The arms are from columbia (a kind of rumba, not the country) - if you watch rumba columbia videos, you'll see those arms a lot. As for the cross, to me it's just a cross. Probably not as helpful as you wanted but maybe a start.

[@jan1cem]

Whats the title of the song in the intro?

[@MessinaDance]

Some royalty free youtube music. If you go to the yt audio library and filter "Latin" it should come up but the file is on an old computer.

[@MichaelEBarrerasCruz]

ngl the only difference I found from how I learned as a kid raised by Cuban parents is that I life my foot by raising my toes instead of my heel, but overall this was awesome

[@travelandchatapp-learnspan9817]

Steps 1 and 2 are right, but you should empathize that these steps are used a little just on the beginning of dance. Steps 3 and 4 are completely redundant, they should not be used at all. They are valid in LA and Colombian/Puerto Rican Salsa but not in Cuban Casino. Cuban Casino dance does not have step back. And you forget about the most important step in casino. I don't know how it rightly called, I call it tap step. 1-2-3-tap, 5-6-7-tap. It can be just on the place, forward-backward, left-right. Casino dance is 99% percent mix of this step and step which very good described by you under #5. Anyway, good video, cheers 😋 😎 😍

[@MessinaDance]

It's a progression to get people walking and pivoting. It takes a back rock step that most people teach and is very easy for students and changes it to eventually get them walking forward.

[@travelandchatapp-learnspan9817]

@@MessinaDance Yep, I see it here (in Israel). We have a vibrant salsa scene. In the club where i used to dance, teachers on level 1 teach students to step back. On level 6 they wonder: why everybody step back? I think the proper way is to teach right things right from the beginning. But maybe I am wrong, I don't have teaching experience

[@MessinaDance]

@@travelandchatapp-learnspan9817 This does it in 1 lesson versus months of having them back rock. And with this version of the back rock, it's emphasized not to be extreme, keeping your center from going backwards, then emphasizing the 2'nd and 3'rd step with the back cross. Like in rumba, in casino often times the emphasis is on the second and third steps and not so much the first. In reality, small back rocks do happen time to time, dile que no for the ladies, depending where she is starting from, the step back should just be centered and go back if it needs to. You can also back rock in closed position as a variation of paso son. In son, and casino is a style of son so incorporating those elements makes sense, there's back rocking, but knowing when and how is key. For the back cross, leads actually use it a lot moving behind the follows. The "back" is more 3 dimensional than a back rock though so even that back steps is not really a back step. A later video I did shows them in practice some if you want to check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpDNlGRofqiniLs

[@highelfmkdwashere7589]

I know this steps, where are you? I want my cookie!

[@MessinaDance]

Ah.... when classes resume in person, you'll have to visit North Carolina in the US :)

[@MessinaDance]

NEW CASINO TUTORIAL up on the channel... learn vacila, guapea, dile que no, coca-cola, exhibe and more in detail, leads and follows footwork explained: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKO1q2OJo6ygd7M&t

[@cortesa192]

I swear to God I found BackPack kid’s father!

[@2001divyapaul]

0:20 - Basic #1 two step 1:58 - Bssic #2 paso de son 3:28 - Bssic #3 back rocks 4:32 - Basic #4 back cross 5:39 - Basic #5 walk & pivot 7:19 - Practice 9:30 - Outro

[@MessinaDance]

Thanks, I didn't know how to do chapters back then 🤣

[@2001divyapaul]

@@MessinaDance Glad I could add my 2 cents to the learners' community :) These are timeless lessons. I am a new student and stumbled upon your videos. Thanku for this!

[@food6175]

this guy has his lost german brother. his name is Serdar Dursun proffesional german soccer player.

[@MrUlismar]

This black pants don't allows me to see quick which leg is in front😂