Frequently Asked Questions
This is not the Casino you find in Vegas or Jersey
You teach Casino? Awesome. I need a good system of counting cards.
Yes, and not so fast. Casino is a partner dance originated in Havana, Cuba, in the late 1940s-early 1950s.
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It's called Casino since the dance was first done in ballrooms that were called Casinos at the time; hence, the name of the dance.
I'm a Salsa Dancer and have heard of Casino before. I thought Casino and Salsa are the same thing!
They're similar, but not the same. While Casino started in the late 1940s-early 1950s in Havana, Cuba, salsa started in New York in the 1970s. There is footwork and concepts that are specific to Casino that you won't find in salsa.
I thought Cuban dancing and dancing Timba is the same thing...?
Casino is the name of the dance; Timba is the genre of music Casino is usually danced to. Rob wrote an article in April 2019 for Vitalidad Movement Arts and Events Center, giving the layperson a primer for Casino. He's since written a revised version of it, located here.
Can I dance Casino to regular salsa music?
Technically, you can, but it just won't feel right. Check out Rob's Blog Post for more info.
I want to listen to more of this "Timba" you speak of.
Okay, check this playlist out on Rob's Spotify, located here.
Where can I specifically dance Casino, and specifically to Timba in Portland?
Subscribe to my newsletter (form is below). I promise not to spam you, but I will keep you updated on upcoming events regularly. Expect 2-3 newsletters a month at most.
Any other questions?