Rob Hilario - Rueda de Casino in Portland, Oregon

It's time to come home.

After 14 years in Portland, I am relocating back home to the Bay Area.

Portland gave me the space to build something real and figure out exactly who I am as a person. I leave with no regrets; a lot of clarity on what matters and who matters; a deep appreciation for the lessons — expected and unexpected; and the unending desire to improve at Casino.

But before I go — to the students I've taught: you are the reason this chapter meant anything. We still have time, and I plan to make every class count between now and the end of August. The work doesn't stop; it just moves.

P.S. I was going to post in the morning, but you all know I do my best work at night!

It's a full site re-design!
Same URL, same humor, but a new look.

https://school-of-rob.com/

I've been teaching Casino/Rueda de Casino on my own since 2012. One of my first advanced groups taught me more about teaching than any pedagogy book ever could.

Several were over 50. Dedicated, experienced, and they knew what they were doing on the dance floor.

One night before class, one of my students pulled me aside and said:
"I've named our group 'The Alzheimer's Group.'"

I stared at her. "...Why?"

"Because we forget everything you show us and we have to review it all the time."

I laughed it off. But I listened. Review became a permanent part of how I teach.

Fast forward six months. I call a warm-up Rueda — it's clearly a review night.

After the song ends, I say:
"Well, I guess it's a review day. You guys have definitely earned the name 'The Alzheimer's Group.'"

That same student gets mad and goes, "I don't remember calling us 'The Alzheimer's Group!'"

🥁

The moral of the story: retention beats repertoire every time. It doesn't matter how many moves your students know. It matters how many they can actually use on a social dance floor — confidently, musically, and without thinking.

It's Official! Level 3 Partner Class / Intro to Rueda starts April 6th.

YOU'LL LEARN:
More advanced movements using the fundamentals learned in L1 and L2
Common arm pretzels specific to the Casino style
The most common Rueda calls you'll find yourself in, whether you're in the US or abroad

Mondays, 6pm-7pm
Polaris Dance Theater
1820 NW 18th. Ave., Portland, 97209
$50 monthly series

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rob directly!

Finally back home!

A surprise visit from salsera ! Hope to see you at next week’s Timba Night. I’ll get you a Los Van Van shirt to wear, instead.

“Rob knows his stuff and continues to learn from the masters.”

"The officials who run Corvallis need to set an example and not let their town regress back to the 1950s."

This campaign needs you now Revise the Corvallis City Noise Ordinance

A quick weekend trip to Seattle means I say hello again to an old friend. Until next time.