Spring Break
Rumbanana salsa group to compete in Germany
Rumbanana may be picked to represent U.S. in World Rueda Championship because of ability to represent dance well
Lisa Riordan
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: News
The Rumbanana Salsa group is set to travel to Germany for the spring dance competition, where they will be competing against teams from around the globe.
Group members will perform an authentic style of Cuban dance called Rueda de Casino during the intense three-day tour, held March 7-9 in Munich.
The local dance troupe, featuring several OSU students and faculty members, was the only American team selected to compete at the international event.
"Because of our high profile in the U.S., the World Rueda Championship organizers asked us to compete," said Simona Boucek, the Rumbana group's co-director. "They wanted a team from the U.S. to participate that would do a good job of representing the dance, and we were picked."
Boucek is particularly proud of how the local Rueda de Casino community has grown in recent years, and described the Corvallis-based salsa group as one of the more prominent Cuban dance teams in the U.S.
"People are actually moving to Corvallis because of the Cuban dance community we have built here," Boucek said.
Naomi Hertel, an OSU graduate and current employee in the animal sciences department, has been a part of Rumbanana for nearly three years.
Hertel believes the significance of the upcoming trip goes far beyond the actual competition itself.
"I consider our trip to Germany as an incredible opportunity to connect with dancers from all over the world," Hertel said, "who enjoy the same dance... if we do well in the competition it is just a bonus."
Of the 25 team members currently involved in Rumbanana, only four couples are expected to compete at the upcoming competition.
The team has been preparing for the big event by holding weekend rehearsals, and increasing fund-raising efforts.
In addition to hosting the twice-monthly Latin X Night at local Platinum nightclub in downtown Corvallis, the group has established a unique donation program that provides an intriguing incentive to potential donors.
"The neat part of that is if someone donates more than $100, we'll create a new Rueda de Casino move and name it in their honor," Boucek said. "The move will be put on video and posted online and taught at events all over the world."
Representatives from the Olympics have been invited to observe the championship competition to assess the inclusion of Rueda de Casino in the Summer 2012 Olympic games.
If the dance style is determined eligible, "being the main team from the U.S., we would have a good shot of representing the U.S." Boucek said.
Lisa Riordan, news writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Group members will perform an authentic style of Cuban dance called Rueda de Casino during the intense three-day tour, held March 7-9 in Munich.
The local dance troupe, featuring several OSU students and faculty members, was the only American team selected to compete at the international event.
"Because of our high profile in the U.S., the World Rueda Championship organizers asked us to compete," said Simona Boucek, the Rumbana group's co-director. "They wanted a team from the U.S. to participate that would do a good job of representing the dance, and we were picked."
Boucek is particularly proud of how the local Rueda de Casino community has grown in recent years, and described the Corvallis-based salsa group as one of the more prominent Cuban dance teams in the U.S.
"People are actually moving to Corvallis because of the Cuban dance community we have built here," Boucek said.
Naomi Hertel, an OSU graduate and current employee in the animal sciences department, has been a part of Rumbanana for nearly three years.
Hertel believes the significance of the upcoming trip goes far beyond the actual competition itself.
"I consider our trip to Germany as an incredible opportunity to connect with dancers from all over the world," Hertel said, "who enjoy the same dance... if we do well in the competition it is just a bonus."
Of the 25 team members currently involved in Rumbanana, only four couples are expected to compete at the upcoming competition.
The team has been preparing for the big event by holding weekend rehearsals, and increasing fund-raising efforts.
In addition to hosting the twice-monthly Latin X Night at local Platinum nightclub in downtown Corvallis, the group has established a unique donation program that provides an intriguing incentive to potential donors.
"The neat part of that is if someone donates more than $100, we'll create a new Rueda de Casino move and name it in their honor," Boucek said. "The move will be put on video and posted online and taught at events all over the world."
Representatives from the Olympics have been invited to observe the championship competition to assess the inclusion of Rueda de Casino in the Summer 2012 Olympic games.
If the dance style is determined eligible, "being the main team from the U.S., we would have a good shot of representing the U.S." Boucek said.
Lisa Riordan, news writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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