Teachers

Workshop: Rueda de Son (Caminando addition) 

Chae Reid is a dance instructor, performer, and choreographer who believes that dancing transforms lives.

As the founder of Moving Rhythms LLC, she helps students cultivate fellowship, develop greater self-confidence, and enhance physical and mental wellness.

She specializes in Cuban popular dances (bailes populares) like Rueda de Casino, Afro-Cuban Rumba, Son, and Cha-Cha-Cha. She has also traveled to Cuba to study modern dance and flamenco while experiencing Cuban culture firsthand. As a mental health professional, she believes movement is essential to wellness and advocates for expressive arts in the therapeutic space. As such, she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in dance/movement therapy.

Workshop: Rueda Rauda

Ethan Wagner teaches rueda, body movement and isolations, and Afro-Cuban folkloric dance professionally in New York City.  

He has directed Columbia University’s salsa program, and is the founder and director of Ruedame, traveling from Boston to Abu Dhabi teaching and entertaining.  

Ethan has taught at festivals nearly everywhere in the world, including several previous RuedX events in other cities. 

In fact: he can be considered the Father of RuedX, beginning 2016.

Ethan likes to emphasize not only the dance and the music but also the history and culture behind them.

Workshop: Rueda Historia

Sarah was first lured into dancing rueda de casino during a work-study shift at Studio Gracia in San Francisco in the early 2000’s. 

Twenty years later, with a PhD under her belt, her passion and curiosity for Afro-Cuban music and dance and popular dance cultures continue to burn strong. 

You can find some of her publications online… or just ask! 

She currently assists teaching rueda with Messina Dance Company, leads a Latin jazz combo, and runs half a dozen other arts and non-profit hustles in Durham, NC.  

Workshop: Ábaco (Adentro y Afuera) 

Taught by maestros Sarita, Vladmir, Dreyser, and Dailyn... and most other dance teachers in the GTA.

Accomplished learning many dance forms and continues to perfect his craft while continuing to learn under various teachers in the GTA and abroad.

His current interest is Ábaco, a solution for people left outside the rueda.  So,  we have abaco versions of each rueda step.

But the next step is essential: how do "outsiders" (afuera) smoothly become "insiders" (adentro), and vice-versa.  Come and dance some ábaco, see how the special call is made, and the switch smoothly happens.  

Workshop:  Modifier Madness

Carlo started dancing Salsa and Casino Rueda in the mid 90s. 

In 2002, he attended the Landcruise Salsa Extravaganza in Cancun, Mexico where he took the Casino Rueda "Miami Style" Instructor course with Rene Gueits from Salsa Lovers. 

In 2004, founded and became the Artistic Director Caribbean Latin Groove Entertainment. Founder/Director of Ottawa's Cuban salsa convention (2nd annual edition being held in June 2024).  It is called Una Bulla... which by the way, is his favourite rueda call.  

Modifier Madness will demonstrate how simple calls are turned into mesmerizing moves... see how modifier calls can add flair, excitement, and creativity to your Rueda repertoire.