CubanaFest 2009 has one of the most impressive
line-ups in the UK including three Cuban Salsa bands, and
Calle Real, their debut performance in the UK and the top
international and UK based artists, to create an exciting
music and dance festival.
We are still finalising the lineup, there
are more artists to come, but you can expect to be inspired.
Please note that the lineup is subject to change.
CALLE REAL (confirmed)
PERFORMING FOR THE 1ST TIME IN THE UK AT CUBANAFEST
2009
Calle Real is formed by twelve guys
who play modern timba with distinctive pop influences.
Its well arranged and tightly played music for the
club scene. There's a definite heavy groove with a
sound that differs from the masses. It can be rock,
funk, R&B or mostly pop, which is not unexpected
since the band grew up with MTV. Their repertoire
consists solely of original creations.
In 2003, the band received an invitation to play
at a festival in Cuba, Benny Moré. It is a
festival that assembles the best salsa and timba-bands
in Cuba and which also invites some international
acts. The whole adventure was filmed, which resulted
in a music documentary Spelplats Cuba (A Gig in Cuba),
later shown at the Gothenburg Film Festival in 2005
and bought by Swedish Television.
Their first album "Con fuerza" is very
popular with salsa dancers with top hits including
Princesa and Ya Lo Se. The release of their second
album is planned for late 2008.
See
'Princesa' Video
LA CUBA RITMO (invited)
Bandleader, Cuban violinist Gabriel Fonseca, studied
violin at the National School of Music in Havana before
joining the Santiago De Cuba Philharmonic Orchestra.
He later went on to play with two of Cuba’s famous
salsa bands,
'Original de Manzanillo' and 'Candido Fabré y
Su Banda' with whom he recorded and toured around the
world playing at clubs and festivals. Gabriel has performed
or shared the stage with many Latin stars such as Los
Van Van, Oscar D’Leon, Grupo Niché, Gran
Combo de Puerto Rico, Paquito de Rivera and more recently
Eliades Ochoa, one of the original Buena Vista Social
Club. Now based in London, Gabriel has played with various
Latin Bands and has performed at such venues as Ronnie
Scott’s, the Jazz Café, the Barbican and
Bridgewater Hall.
At the forefront of the band with his powerful electric
violin, Gabriel is a fine melodic improviser with an
impeccable technique.
La Cuba Ritmo 6-piece band perform a mix of modern
& traditional Cuban music. Gabriel on violin &
backing vocals, Rene on keyboard/backing vocals and
musical arranger, Yuri's suavely passionate lead vocals,
Oscar on baby bass, Randy on congas and Michel on timbales.
All together creating an atmosphere of high voltage
and excitement, the talent of these Cuban band members
has secured La Cuba Ritmo a reputation as one of the
hottest salsa bands in the UK.
OSVALDO CHACON Y SU TIMBA
(invited) AUDIO
SAMPLES HERE
Chacón y su Timba includes
a line-up of the UK's foremost Cuban and Latin musicians,
proving a great success with audiences and promoters.
Originally trained as
a teacher in Havana, Osvaldo Chacón began his musical
career with some of Cuba's top salsa bands, including
Paulito FG, El Medico de la Salsa and Bamboleo.
Chacón y su Timba have
a format of 7-10 musicians and play a range of original
salsa/timba and classic style son.
INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS
& PERFORMERS
REYNOLD PRIETO &
VANESSA
SWEDEN/CUBA (invited)
Reynold is a professional dancer and
dance instructor from National School of Art, Havana,
Cuba, one of the best dance organisations in the world.
He is based in Sweden and regularly performs and teaches
at many major international events. He will be performing
and teaching with his dance partner Vanessa, for the
first time in the UK, at CubanaFest.
He teaches Salsa, Son, Mambo, Cha Cha
Cha, Rumba, Afro-Cuban dance and Reggaeton.
See
Video Clip
YUNNAISY FARRAY
CUBA/ITALY (invited)
Yunaisy was born into a family of Cuban
dancers including her mother Josefina Castillo and
her aunt Anaisa Castillo, dancers at Havana's prestigious
Tropicana, and her uncle Alberico Calderon, currently
one of the greatest stars on the international Salsa
stage. Yunaisy started dancing at the age of seven
years old in the Experimental School of Cuban Ballet.
She later graduated as a singer, actress and dancer
of musicals from Cuba's National Music Entertainment
Academy (ENEM), where along side her dance studies
she trained as a contortionist at the School of Circus
Cubano. Following her graduation she has performed
on Cuban TV as part of the national ballet, was selected
to join the Latin-pop band 'Crash Chicas', and then
worked as the lead dancer for two years on the luxury
Italian cruise ship Valtur Prima. In Italy, she danced,
on programs such as 'Together' on national Italian
TV. She currently performs with Latin Black, one of
the most exciting international dance acts.
ALEXANDER CARBO
CUBA/ITALY (invited)
Alexander began studying ballet and modern
dance at the age of ten years old and six years later
he developed a passion for Afro-Cuban dance, which led
him to study in Havana at the prestigious National Academy
of Dance. He arrived in Italy in 2001 and began his
career as a Master of Salsa, dancer and choreographer.
He has performed at the most prestigious Latin events
including 'The Summer International Salsa Festival;'
the Salsa Festival in Rimini and 'The World Salsa Festival'
in Rome and Bologna. He has also participated in numerous
TV broadcasts including "The Life Direct".
" He currently teaches at his dance school "Clave
y Rumba" in Italy and performs shows, which he
has choreographed himself, at major Salsa events across
the world.
CHIQUITO - ITALY (confirmed) 'Best International Dancer Award'
2006, 2007 & 2008, presented by Eddie Torres
CHIQUITO won the AWARD of "BEST INTERNATIONAL DANCER"
in 2007 & 2008, presented to him by Eddie Torres.
CHIQUITO trained as a professional dancer in a variety
of Latin dance forms to create an explosive fusion
of Cuban Salsa, Hip Hop, Acrobatics, and other dance
forms. In 2004, Chiquito, joined the dance group,
Latin Black, arguably one of the most impressive dance
groups in Europe, and in 2007 went on to form his
own dance group, which performed for the first time
in the UK, and exclusively, at the 3rd International
Cuban Salsa Congress. You can look forward to their
breathtakingshows, which take dance to a whole new
level.
ALICE ATZENI- ITALY (confirmed)
Alice Atzeni began her formation at 'The Academy of
Classical Dance' in Genoa, Italy and following her graduation
worked with some of the best dancers and dance acts
in the world and was the winner of several International
dance awards. In 2006 she became a lead dancer with
the famous group Salsachè, with whom she combined,
Salsa, Hip-Hop, Afro Cuban, and classical and modern
dance. In 2007, she became the first dancer of Chiquito's
new dance troupe, who was presented with "The Best
International Dancer Award' in 2007 by the great Edie
Torres (The Mambo King). With Chiquito she studied Cuban
Salsa, Afro, Rumba, Timba, Hip Hop and combined them
with classical and modern dance.
Alice teaches Salsa, Chachacha, Female styling, Rumba,
Latin pop, Latin jazz, smooth, and many other dance
forms.
MIGUEL VALENTIN - ITALY (confirmed)
Miguel started his dance career in the world of Hip
Hop. He began his studies in Los Angeles, New York
and Chicago with internationally renowned masters
including Shawn 'Dante' Harper, Martin Kudelka, Shane
Spark, and Patrick Chen. After studying Hip Hop in
Chicago, he moved to Los Angeles where he launched
his career as a dancer in videos from Justin Timberlake
and Missy Elliot and in the movies 'You got Served'
and the recent 'Stomp The Yard'. He toured with Samsung
Fergi of Black Eyed Peas as a lead dancer.
He began teaching Salsa in Italy in 2005. He joined
the group Danzarines de Papatambot by Jorge Santana
(dancer and choreographer in the film Dirty Dancing
2) with which he performed at various Congresses in
Italy and abroad. In August 2007 he joined Chiquito
(formerly Latin Black) and his new dance group, which
in a very short period has become one of the most
popular dance groups in the world.
PERLA - Italy (confirmed)
Perla began her dance formation in modern-jazz and
contemporary dance at a leading dance school in Italy
and starred in a number of musicals including "Grease,"
and "Chorus Line".She studied Cuban dances at 'The Academy
of Cuban Salsa', founded by teacher and choreographer
Lazaro Martin Diaz and joined the Cuban folklore dance
group Azucar Negra, with which she perfored at major
events across the world including "Festival Latinoamericano
2007" and "Salsitaly 2007", to name but
a few.
She is an incredibly talented dancer of Cuban Salsa,
Latin-Jazz, modern dance and artistic gymnastics. IN
JULY 2008 she joined Chiquito's dance group, Dominican
Power.
CHOCOLATE
FRANCE (confirmed)
Chocolate grew
up immersed in music and dance, the Afro-Caribbean
folk dances passed on to him by his father, Madikera,
a professional dancer. As a youth he was drawn to
the world of Hip Hop and in 1991, he headed a Hip
Hop group as a singer, dancer and choreographer. This
led to him performing at many shows and festivals,
and several TV appearances as a dancer and Rap singer.
He eventually moved on from Hip Hop disappointed with
the aggressive atmosphere and vibe and focused his
energies on athletics (winning national and regional
championships in the tipple jump) and martial arts
(became a Tae Kwon Do instructor, 1st Dan). Alongside
his university studies, he worked as a coach in athletics
and Tae Kwon Do, and developed first class teaching
skills. In 2000, he worked with Professor Canguru
learning Capoeira and Brazilian dance (samba and pagode
Forro) and during his work in Cuba as an agricultural
engineer, immersed himself in Timba and Cuban dance.
Timba grabbed him as modern, fresh and exciting and
he became the founder of one of the most successful
dance schools in Montpellier, totally dedicated to
Afrocaribean dances. Chocolate is one of the best
teachers of Timba, body isolation, reggaeton, and
musical interpretation in Europe.
TOP UK BASED TEACHERS
& PERFORMERS
CUBANAFEST MASTER OF CEREMONIES:
WILSON CASTRO
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC/UK (confirmed)
Wilson has danced since the age of six and is one of
the most charismatic and exciting teachers we have ever
worked with - he has a huge personality and is a natural
entertainer. He graduated in ballet, jazz, salsa and
folklore dances such as Merengue and Bachata in the
Dominican Republic. He was six times undefeated Salsa
champion, in the Dominican Republic, and a celebrity
on TV all over South America, dancing and competing
in Salsa, Merengue and Bachata competitions. He has
fifteen years experience of teaching, choreographing
and entertaining at major Salsa events and his lessons
are incredibly popular. At the Congress, he'll be teaching
Merengue and Bachata as a fun alternative to Salsa,
and he'll loosen everyone up with his fun lineups.
ARIEL RIOS ROBERT- CUBA/UK (confirmed)
Ariel Rios Roberts has performed
and choreographed in many of the best theatres in
Havana, Cuba, sharing stage with a number of prestigious
groups including The National Ballet of Cuba, National
Folk Group, Isadanza and Yoruba Andabo. Ariel has
over nine years experience of designing and presenting
courses in dance, including master classes, lectures
and presentations in cultural centres, specialising
in: Cha Cha Cha, Mambo, Son, Danzon, Rumba, Afro Cuban,
Salsa and Casino. In addition, Ariel has over fifteen
years experience as a professional dancer including
as a soloist and as a member of the cast with the
Folk University group of the Habana University where
he coordinated and choreographed national and international
dance tours.
CESAR PACHECO - CUBA/UK (confirmed)
The only Cuban dancer to win two awards for; Rueda
and partner dance at the International Salsa competition
in Havana. He spent two years performing on Cuban TV,
and was resident choreographer at Teatro America
Cesar is a fully qualified dance instructor, all the
way from Cuba! He teaches popular Cuban dance (Cuban
Salsa, Casino Rueda, Son, ChaChaCha, Mambo and Salsa
Cabaret), along with body movement, concept and technique.
Cesar has developed his own style of innovative teaching
methods and is dedicated to delivering the best to his
students, ensuring that his lessons are professional
but at the same time enjoyable.
FARAH PORTELA-
CUBA/UK (confirmed)
The only Cuban dancer to win two awards for; Rueda
and partner dance
Farah Portela from Havana, Cuba was the first person
to teach Cuban Salsa and Rueda de Casino in Scotland.
Tumbao Salsa School has established a UK wide reputation
for excellence, winning the Tropicana Tropics World
Rueda de Casino and being runners up on two occasions.
KAREL DUVAL- CUBA/UK
(confirmed)
In 2002 Karel graduated from the Theatre
Nacional de Cuba, where he studied many different
styles of dance including Cuban popular dance, contemporary
dance and Folklore (afro-Cuban dance).
Afterwards he decided to create his
own school of dance where he taught salsa, rumba and
many other styles of dance. He has also worked in
cooperation with other dance holiday companies from
different parts of the world including Spain, Germany,
Holland, Denmark, Belgium, Japan, Italy and others.
When he arrived to the UK from Cuba,
Karel had the opportunity of entering the World Tropicana
Championship in 2004 as a member of the group "Explosion
Cubana", where we achieved first place in the Rueda
de Casino.
YERSIN RIVAS - CUBA/UK (confirmed)
Yersin
Rivas, born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, Yersin started dancing
at an early age. For the last 7 years he has been
teaching Cuban Salsa, Cha Cha Cha and Afro Cuban in
the UK. As well as as his passion for dance, Yersin
is the resident Cuban DJ at Babylon Lounge Club in
Brighton. Yersin is an energetic person who brings
excitement and joy through his dance.
Yersin
Rivas, born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, Yersin started dancing
at an early age. For the last 7 years he has been
teaching Cuban Salsa, Cha Cha Cha and Afro Cuban in
the UK. As well as as his passion for dance, Yersin
is the resident Cuban DJ at Babylon Lounge Club in
Brighton. Yersin is an energetic person who brings
excitement and joy through his dance.
MOE FLEX- UK (confirmed)
Recently crowned the UK’s 'Most Popular
Cuban Salsa Teacher 2006’, Moe Flex is one of the most
exciting, inspiring and entertaining characters in the
international Latin dance scene today. In feedback from
our last Congress, his workshops received an average
rating of 'excellent' and our highest overall score
ever. The man with the biggest smile in salsa can always
be found at the heart of the biggest salsa nights, weekenders
and congresses. Moe divides his time between teaching,
choreographing and performing salsa, throughout the
UK and overseas. Moe also has extensive reggaeton, hip
hop, locking, bachata, cha cha cha and On2 skills which
he regularly incorporates into his classes and shows.
Moe’s professionalism, enthusiasm and excellence in
such a wide variety of disciplines have established
him as one of the best teachers around, encouraging
and mentoring everyone from first time beginners to
professional dancers in his inimitable "all good" style.
SUSAN HACKLING - UK (confirmed)
Trained in a wide
variety of dance disciplines (including jazz, tap &
ballet), Susan has been teaching salsa for 10 years
& has studied Cuban popular & folkloric dance forms,
both in Havana & Santiago de Cuba. Renowned for her
attention to detail, style & technique, she is one of
the UK’s foremost teachers of authentic Cuban salsa
& her extensive training enables her to help her students
achieve greater fluidity in their body movement, a higher
degree of musical interpretation & the ability to mix
a variety of rhythms. She also regularly performs Cuban
dance shows. Possessing an impressive knowledge of Cuban
culture, Susan is a fluent Cuban Spanish speaker, has
hosted 15 dance holidays to the island and is cofounder
of Salsa Caribe Productions - London's leading promoters
of authentic Cuban salsa.
TOP DJ'S
RICHARD FALLON - UK (confirmed)
Medals in ballroom and Latin dance as a
youngster plus a healthy teenage passion
for bop, jive and sharp funk moves led to
Richard's eventual abduction by salsa dance
and music in 1997.
Teaching and DJing since 2000 in a wide
wide variety of London Clubs, Richard's two-year stint
with dance troupe Cudance saw him performing a range
of Cuban popular dances at events nationally and internationally,
including Cuban Day at the Royal Festival Hall and The
Festival of Cuban Culture in Paris.
Over the years, Rich has taught residencies and guest
slots at many of the capital’s sweetest salsa nights
as well as at weekend events.
DJ JAVIER DE LA ROSA, CUBA/UK (confirmed)
Javier, winner of the "Most
Popular Cuban Salsa DJ " Award 2006 and finalist
in the Bacardi DJ Competition 2003, he is one of the
most exciting Latin DJ's on the scene. He came to the
UK five years ago from Havana, Cuba, where he worked
at the Castillito Cultural Centre and was involved in
various musical activities. He has been DJing in the
UK since his arrival, playing Salsa and Timba Cubana,
Reggaeton, Latin Hip-Hop and R & B to suit the occasion..
He featured in id London magazine (October 2005 edition)
as one of the UKs leading emerging acts in the urban
Latin music scene. Currently, you can find him playing
at various clubs and events in London and the UK
DJ JIM - UK (confirmed)
As well as being a highly skilled
teacher of Cuban salsa with 9 years experience, Jim
is also a celebrated & vastly experienced Latin music
DJ, specialising in cutting-edge Cuban salsa & timba.
He regularly plays at many of London’s top salsa venues
& is resident DJ at The Afro-Cuban Lounge (at the Buffalo
Bar), London’s foremost weekly Cuban salsa night. He
also regularly hosts dedicated Cuban rooms at many of
the UK’s largest salsa events, as well as playing DJ
support at live concerts by visiting Cuban artists such
as Los Van Van, Manolito & Azucar Negra. His first compilation
cd Bar Cuba will be released on Nascente Records in
June 2007. Jim has been a regular visitor to Cuba since
the mid 1990s & is cofounder of Salsa Caribe Productions
- London's leading promoters of authentic Cuban salsa.
DJ SHORTY, UK (confirmed)
After giving up dance school to concentrate on University,
DJ Shorty soon got itchy feet to dance again and Salsa
was the answer. Hooked after her first class in 2000;
she hasn't looked back. DJ Shorty has been DJing among
the Cuban DJ royalty of the UK ever since. Experienced
in DJing for all Salsa audiences, she is best known
for wowing the Cuban crowds with her eclectic mix of
Timba Cubana and Salsa, whether cutting-edge or classic,
and receives wide acclaim for her talent. Currently,
you can find her playing at various clubs nights and
weekenders across London, the South-East, and UK-wide.
She is a regular DJ for AfroCuban Pati, Salsa SOS, and
Club Cubana, as well as her residencies and individual
event appearances. Oh, and if she's not DJing? You can
guarantee she'll be shaking it on the dancefloor...
DJ FLECHA- CUBA/UK (confirmed)
DJ Flecha is an International
Latin Disc-Jockey (DJ) with an impressive track record.
He is currently resident DJ at Floridita, in London,
and was the principal resident DJ at the famous Casa
De La Musica in Havana, from 2002 to Feb 2008. He mixes
in real time a non-stop music session promoting the
best of the Latin and Cuban grooves of all times (Son,
Montuno, Guaracha, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Guaguancó,
Salsa, Timba, Merengue, Bachata, Reggaeton, Samba, Ballenato,
Cumbia). His achievements include:
*Judge of the Second Salsa DJ Competition (April 2007)
*Finalist of the Cuban First Salsa DJ Competition (March
2005)
*Winner of the House Music DJ Festival, Macumba Habana
(December 2004)
*Leading DJ of the Casino Competition, Casa de La Música
Habana (July 2004)
*DJ time on Radio Taino and Radio Habana Cuba stations
(1997-1998)
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