Use this page to review a small set of starter figures, compare names and versions, and prepare to join or begin calling a rueda.
Rueda de Casino can be approachable and fun with a small set of familiar figures. These figures are a starting point, not a complete syllabus.
Starter Figures
The list below includes figures from Basic Foundations and other selected starter figures.
From Basic Foundations
• Guapea
• Dame
• Dile Que No
Simple Figures
• Enchufla
• Enchufla Doble
• Adios / Prima
• Vacilala
• Sombrero
• Un Fly
You do not need to learn these figures in this order. Start with the figures and calls used by the group you dance with.
Understanding Rueda Variations
Rueda de Casino originated in Cuba and later spread to Miami and elsewhere, continuing to evolve across different schools and communities. As a result, figures associated with the same call may be performed differently, and similar figures may be known by different names.
Common differences include:
• directions assigned to Arriba and Abajo
• hand signals
• timing and preparation
• handholds and arm paths
• entries and endings
• partner-change patterns
• move names and calls
Version Labels Used on This Site
Labels such as "Cuban" and "Miami" identify the version demonstrated in the linked video. They do not mean that everyone in that region or community performs the figure in the same way.
Move Families
On the Move List, families and other headings are for navigation only, not official classifications or difficulty levels.
Alternative Names and Naming Differences
Alternative names may be listed when different sources use different names for the same figure. The same name may also refer to different figures across schools or communities.
Use the linked video and any version label to identify the figure demonstrated. Even when the name is the same, timing, handholds, entries, endings, or partner-change patterns may differ.