As joint Congress hosts with Brighton's Cubashe Dance Promotions, Norwegian Salsa group SalsaNor landed in force, in party mood and with a good catch of their own Cuban, Latin and homegrown instructors.
           To hook dancers, there were some juicy baits on offer, including a line up featuring some of the world’s best Cuban instructors; Rueda World Champion Osbanis Tejeda; Salsa Champion Rafael del Busto, UK Salsa Champion and Afro-Cuban dance expert Damarys Farres, Ariel Rios Roberts, Enrique Perez and Cubashe's own Leo Henriquez.
           Making her UK debut at the Brighton Congress was Geldes Moralez (Right: Geldes with Pablo from SalsaNor). Originally from Havana Cuba, Geldes is one of Norway’s best-kept secrets, a quite exceptional talent and one salsa lovers need to see more of at international congresses.
           La Rueda – or the Cuban Wheel – is Cuban-style circle dancing and started to roll in Havana in the 1950’s, growing out of traditional Cuban salsa. Usually, Rueda is carried out at break-neck speed by pairs of dancers in a circle, switching partners in response to moves called by a leader (cantante).
           Mostly, calls are given in Spanish – for example, Dil que no, Enchufla, Sombrero - although some are in Spanglish - Un fly - others are international – Coca cola.           Moves are carried out with the current dance partner and often, trigger a switch to the next partner in the circle.
         One of big pluses of La Rueda is the blindingly obvious – people dance in a group.
           “Because everybody dances together, Rueda is very sociable and friendly. A lot of the moves are quirky and cheeky and pure fun  – this is the essence of Salsa. People can take LA style too seriously, whereas Rueda is down to earth and good fun,” Cubashe’s Claudine Baker explains. 

           La Rueda seems to have sprung from nowhere on the UK Salsa scene. “A few years ago, there were hardly any Rueda classes on offer in clubs, now they’re everywhere,” says Claudine Baker.
           There are good reasons for La Rueda’s growing popularity in the UK - and internationally.                  The Rueda crowd has got to be one of the friendliest on the dance circuit; it’s fun, there are dozens of moves to learn most of which are just as usable when dancing Cuban-style Salsa in couples and so plenty to interest all levels of ability.
           By contrast, Salsa only arrived in Norway a decade ago but La Rueda caught on immediately. In 2002, the Norwegians held their first Rueda Congress. Currently, the Norwegians are developing their own Rueda standard, creating a
unified Norwegian-style Rueda, taught in all Norwegian Salsa clubs.
         This contrasts sharply with UK practice where a range of Rueda styles are taught, including for instance, Street or Miami).

         Brighton Rueda Congress Hosts Cubashe's Leo Henriquez and Claudine Baker and SalsaNor's team led by Glen Lillehammer, Bjarte Langeland and Reidun Svabo pulled the event together in characteristically Norwegian and Cuban style.
         The Norwegians were dead organised – Father Christmas even turned up at one of the evening parties – while the Cubans let it all hang out, leaving plenty of room for sabor and creative chaos, with the result that everybody enjoyed themselves.
         The Brighton Rueda Congress ticks a lot of boxes and has real pulling power for us wheel geeks. Next year, I predict this event is going to be bigger and better. So many moves, so little time.... Ed.