Professor Melanie Aceto’s Community Engagement Through Cuban Dance Project
Published March 12, 2025
Photo by Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
Professor Melanie Aceto’s Community Engagement Through Cuban Dance project, which is open to the general public, was featured on UBNow.
“Community connections are being made through dance in UB’s Alumni Arena. It’s the gathering place for 20-30 people who regularly take part in a Cuban dance called rueda de casino. Similar to square dancing, rueda de casino features one person in the circle of dancers who calls out the moves for each couple in the rueda — “wheel” in Spanish — to perform.
Photo by Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
"Every Wednesday this spring semester, UB faculty members Melanie Aceto and Andrea Pitts teach rueda de casino through their program, Community Engagement through Cuban Dance. It’s a collaboration that provides an opportunity to connect and enhance UB’s relationships with Western New York communities and UB’s own diverse students, faculty and staff.”
The group meets on Wednesdays; 6pm for beginners and 7pm for intermediate. Contact Associate Professor Melanie Aceto for more information: aceto@buffalo.edu