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.
​
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 Rob's newsletter (form is below). He promises not to spam you, but he will keep you updated on upcoming events regularly. Expect 2-3 newsletters a month at most.
Any other questions?