Rueda Con Ritmo

Ryan was amazing. He helped prepare us for our wedding dance– we don’t know what we would do without him! 5 star for sure. SO happy! Everything went awesome and our family and friends were thoroughly impressed at our wedding :)

This is a review for the OAKLAND studio, but they don’t seem to have a Unilocal page.
My boyfriend and I went to one of the salsa classes last night. We both have a good bit of salsa experience (we’ve both taken classes before and I’ve danced a lot casually), and decided we should try out level 2. When the teacher started, she did not explain or demonstrate anything, and instead just started calling out steps and having everyone do them right away in the rueda (circle). None of the steps looked particularly new or challenging, but neither of us were familiar with some of the specific calls (there were several steps I had learned different words for), or had not done them specifically in a rueda (only with a partner), so we were confused and somewhat lost. After about 5 – 10 minutes, the teacher told us (in front of the whole class) in a way that felt somewhat condescending that if we did not know these more basic moves, we should go to level 1. We went to level 1, and the teacher was great, but the moves were all things we had learned many times before, and it made the class very boring. Again, the teacher for level 1 was great (very enthusiastic, patient and kind), but we were not able to learn anything new, which was frustrating after paying for a class. If you are completely new to salsa and want to go through the studio’s program one level at a time, this could be a good spot for you. But if you’ve done salsa before and are familiar with the steps, but have never done it at this specific place, I would not recommend classes here.

To all the people out there who think they’re just not dancers:
I’d never danced a day in my life before I took Ryan and Sidney’s class, and now I can’t get enough. I’m taking several of their classes a week, and even though I’m not a natural dancer by any means, they’ve helped me progress in ways I didn’t think I was capable of.
Ryan and Sidney have a uniquely academic understanding of rhythm and musicality, a keen eye for style, creative minds, kind hearts, and are absolutely jaw-​dropping dancers.
In short, I look forward to learning from them every week, and the community they’ve built through their classes has become a big part of my life. Whether you’re an experienced salsero or you feel dancing is beyond you, I can’t recommend this pair enough.

Coming from Miami, I’ve been struggling to find a REALLY good Cuban Casino Salsa class since I moved to SF. I came across Ryan and Sidney’s ODC class out of the blue and I haven’t looked back. Instead of having one hour of everybody doing the same moves week after week, you have 4 ruedas going on simultaneously with different levels of students. Fantastic! And you get two hours of it. AND on a Friday. Need I say more? I look forward to their class every week and I can’t wait to continue learning with them.

Ryan and Sidney are simply amazing! You wouldn’t find better teachers and lovers of Cuban salsa in town! If you are looking for having a great time, while learning an amazing dance, I would whole-​heartedly recommend them!

I have taken a LOT of dance classes in my day, and Ryan and Sidney knock it out of the park. They are fun and welcoming, while challenging us to do our best… their high standards and clear instruction make it easy to learn and progress quickly. The community they’ve built keeps me coming back week after week — I’ve only been coming to class for a year on and off and it feels like family! Hands down the best place to sweat, learn, exercise, and then realize you’ve had a huge grin on the whole time :)
Oh and p. s. I’ve brought a lot of newbies to class and it is VERY welcoming even if you have no experience — they will start at the very beginning and not talk down to you, OR your two left feet! For reals!

I learned to dance Cuban salsa with Ryan and Sid, after a more complicated class left me puzzled with what I was supposed to do in a circle :) These two just ease you into it — you progress from one level to the next with ease and while having tons of fun. I wish my schedule would allow me to attend more of their advanced classes: Ryan and Sidney teach grace & style with grace & style.
In addition, Ryan is a musician and an astounding connoisseur of Cuban rhythm — that will add a unique layer to your dancing and enjoyment of dance.
Great people, great teachers!

This review is long overdue. I had the pleasure of meeting and taking classes from Sydney and Ryan over a year ago and enjoyed the classes/​adored them immediately. They’re patient, easy to learn from, and are fun (and they’re just nice people, too). I like that they focus on teaching moves (rather than just making participants watch them dance), and helping participants learn. They keep it fun, and teach easy (fun) moves as well as intricate complicated ones. I also like that they dance and participate at festivals and events too, and treat everyone as if they have the ability to learn (like I said — they’re just nice). I enjoy their classes, their moves, their style, and their attitude. Try a class!

A friend introduced me to Sidney and Ryan, assuring me, «That’s Ryan and Sid — they’re the teachers. They’re great! You’ll love them!» I am generally suspicious of teacher-​types, and don’t hand over my cash to just anyone — repeatedly.
After several months of happily joining in class after class, I can report that on the technical and personal sides of teaching, Rueda con Ritmo delivers time and again. Not only are these people patient, friendly, and welcoming to beginners and advanced students alike — they remembered me and greeted me warmly after just one lesson — but they offer such enthusiasm for the technique and learning of salsa Cubana that I was drawn in to aspects of the dance and music I’d never even known about. It’s like the Pocahontas song: «You’ll learn things you never knew you never knew!»
I’m especially loving the Rueda and Ritmo classes in Oakland on Monday nights, where particular rhythmic patterns are the focus for half the class, and learning partnered moves is the focus of the other half. There is a weekly focal song that typifies the patterns we’re learning, and Ryan will often be heard saying, «I have a loop for that.» This is a great way to learn musicality that will enhance your enjoyment of — and ability to improvise to — all sorts of music.
Whether you’re a complete n00b or an experienced dancer, you will have a great time learning with the structured approach of Rueda con Ritmo, and getting connected to a wonderful community of dancers through Ryan and Sidney.

Ryan and Sydney are the best teachers… super patient and they never make you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. (even if you don’t know what you’re doing) Very comfortable and welcoming environment.

Great classes. Fun, multi-​level, great music, open-​hearted. You will be given license to be playful and you will learn. You can decide how much of a challenge you want by picking the level of class. They all go on simultaneously. All your questions will be answered and invariably someone of your same level, with your same questions will be there. Ryan and Sydney are for real.

Having never taken dance lessons of any sort, I was a little apprehensive and didn’t know what to expect in studying with Ryan and Sidney. I can honestly say I had no idea they would be as much fun as they have been. Ryan and Sidney (as well as the other instructors that teach at ODC) are extremely knowledgeable, patient, supportive, and understanding. The classes are structured in various sections (i.e. «how does salsa work» to «I know every move ever invented as both a lead and follower») and therefore allows a nice progression through skill levels. The socials are also insanely fun and a great opportunity to meet and dance with new people.
Simply put — Ryan and Sidney are amazing and truly passionate about their trade. The only negative in taking lessons is that you’ll be hooked after your first!

My favorite salsa school in San Francisco by far. Ryan & Sidney’s Friday night classes are really fun – full of people and great energy. The venue, ODC Dance Commons, is a wonderful space with friendly and helpful staff. I highly recommend Rueda con Ritmo to anyone who is looking for a school where you feel welcomed, learn from experienced and passionate teachers and get to meet a community of people who love to dance. I would give them 6 stars if I could!

Sidney and Ryan are superb, patient teachers, truly gifted choreographers, and genuinely nice people. I studied with them many times over the years, and whether it’s at a dance studio, private event, festival or whatever, they always make their classes fun and easy to follow while still being challenging and level-​appropriate. They play fantastic music and rueda dancing with them is incredibly dynamic and enjoyable.
In addition to their general slate of classes, Sidney and Ryan choreograph and perform at San Francisco Carnival and various Cuban and Caribbean summits and congresses. Their pieces are amazing — they arrange the movements to correspond to breaks in the music and it is incredibly hip. They are now doing some live performance collaborations with Cuban bands that come on tour, which says a lot about the level of respect they are achieving. Check out some of their performances on Youtube, great stuff. The fact that they have both studied extensively in Cuba and both play percussion must be part of the reason that they are so good at what they do. Lovely people and very talented teachers and artists.

Sidney and Ryan are both really talented dancers AND talented teachers! What a combo! Nice folks, too. Really a fun time learning and working out in their class. 5 stars! No, SIX!

I recently came across Ryan and Sidney’s salsa rueda class at ODC. The vibe was very friendly and made me feel comfortable to jump right in. The class is large and very diverse, people of all ages and abilities. Sidney and Ryan are a great teaching team, they break down and repeat patterns so that you really get the hang of it. The music is great and Ryan’s background in music really helps with understanding the timing of everything-​Go Go Go to their classes. I went to the Friday night and Sunday day classes-​great crowd, good energy, affordable, fun, upbeat-​I know there is a strong community there as well, socials, parties, many opportunities to get to know everyone. They are amazing-​Go!

Sidney and Ryan are excellent salsa teachers! They’re so much fun and always very enthusiastic. They both have a great skill for breaking down movement and explaining it in an understandable way. They attract a wide range of interesting and enthusiastic people to their classes and parties, so you will be sure to meet some great folks. They are very gender neutral in their teaching style, always referring to «leader» and «follower,» (rather than designating a male or female part), so that you are welcome to dance whichever part suits you, regardless of your gender. They also use great music and teach in a very musical style, so you will learn a lot about timba music and rhythms from taking their classes. They are so high quality!
Classes are every Friday at 7:15 and 8:15 at ODC in the Mission. They break up into several groups during the same time slot, so whether you’re a beginner or advanced, there will be a level for you. Their curriculum is well-​organized so that you can learn different moves if you come to class every week, while still practicing those you have already learned. They also offer great, free parties, one Friday each month after class (starting at 9:30), which are a blast and allow you to practice in a relaxed atmosphere. In addition to the Friday classes, they also offer other classes and workshops. Your first class is free at ODC, so there is no reason not to give it a try!

I’ve been taking salsa classes with Ryan and Sidney for over two years now and I still learn something new every time I go. They are truly talented dancers and teachers and their warm, easy-​going attitude makes dancing with them a joy every time!
I have to say I am on the pickier side when it comes to dance teachers since I’ve had so many throughout my life (grew up dancing ballet, jazz and tap). But Ryan and Sid are exactly what I look for: creative, specific in their teachings, dedicated and always striving to be better themselves through their dance. And they seem to attract so many wonderful dancers to their classes and performances that it is easy to feel a part of the community after just a few visits.
I definitely recommend their Friday night classes at ODC but get on their mailing list and then you can check out all the different stuff they have going on year round and join in as you like. Their choreography and musicality cannot be beat! Rueda Con Ritmo rocks!

Wonderful teachers with amazing energy! I’ve been with them for 5 years now :) and I’m not the only one. I think that says a lot — when your students keep coming back for years.

You will FALL IN LOVE with Ryan and Sidney!
These guys are just fantastic — they have gobs of passion for the dance they teach, hold incredibly fun classes that are the perfect way to shake down at the end of the week, and have grown a warm, friendly community of dancers that are just one of the billion reasons I love the bay area. They are completely committed to their students and the art of teaching; they teach three hours of dancing at ODC on Friday nights, but they also organize performance workshops, put on super-​friendly dance parties, and host trips to Cuba/​Mexico. After a recent student dance performance, we all headed out to for tapas afterwards, and Ryan ended up going into the kitchen and convincing them to hook his ipod up to the speaker system. Tables were shoved aside, and impromptu rueda ensued until we were kicked out. :)
Most people who come into Ryan and Sidney’s world sort of wander in because they like the music or vaguely have heard that salsa is fun … and then get completely hooked. Come to ODC on a Friday night and don’t look back!