The dance
Casino
What the rest of the world calls "Cuban salsa". Danced in a couple and in circles, not on a line. You do not count steps here — you follow a flow.
Cuban salsa · Lima → Valencia
Cuban salsa,
the real thing
I am Jose Manuel — a Cuban salsa dancer and group choreographer based in Lima, Peru. Casino, rueda de casino and timba. Nothing else, and all the way down.
- 3 Casino · Rueda · Timba
- 100% Cuban style, no line salsa
- 2027 Opening in Valencia, Spain
What I teach
Three words
people mix up
They are not the same thing, and knowing the difference saves you months.
The group game
Rueda de casino
The same dance in a circle of couples. Someone calls a move, everyone does it at the same time and you keep changing partners. It is the fastest way to improve.
The music
Timba
Modern Cuban salsa — Los Van Van, NG La Banda, Havana D'Primera. Harder, broken, full of section changes. Dancing it well is about hearing them coming.
The method
From zero
to the stage
Not a list of drop-in classes. Every level is a closed cycle with a start date, an end date and a goal you can check by dancing it.
- 0
Start 4 weeks
For absolute beginners. Basic step, guapea, dile que no, enchufla — and above all, learning to hear the beat.
- 1
Casino 8 weeks
Turns, setenta, sombrero and the combinations you will actually use at a party. Clean leading and following.
- 2
Rueda 8 weeks
The calls, the partner changes and the rueda figures. This is where casino becomes a group.
- 3
Timba 8 weeks
Body movement, despelote, breaks and answering the band. Real musicality, not just more steps.
- +
Show group Ongoing
A full choreography with a date to perform it. It is the goal of the method from day one and what makes you grow fastest.
- +
Intensives Weekend · 4–6 h
One single topic in depth: rueda, timba or musicality. For visitors and for anyone who wants a fast jump.
Group choreographies
What I do best
Taking a group of people with different levels and getting them to move as one thing on a stage. Weddings, company parties, anniversaries, show groups. The choreography is built around the group you have, not the other way round.
See the portfolioThe portfolio page is in Spanish for now — the videos speak for themselves.
- Song choice and musical editing
- Choreography built for the group's real level
- Formations, entrances and exits
- Directed rehearsals plus a practice video
- Support on the day of the show
The plan
Lima now,
Valencia next
I would rather say it plainly: the school is not open yet. This is what is done and what is coming.
Lima
Training and method
I train, build choreographies and test the full route with real groups. Whatever works stays.
Valencia
Opening in Spain
First in-person cycles in a studio, plus the school's first show group.
Europe
Intensives and touring shows
Intensive weekends and turn-key choreographies for groups in other cities.
Waiting list
Be there
when it opens
Leave me a note and I will get in touch when there are dates, a studio and a schedule. No newsletter, no spam — just a message when it actually happens.
Nothing is stored anywhere: this form just writes a WhatsApp message for you to send.
Coreógrafo