Nearly 1 million Africans from West and Central Africa were captured by Cuba's Spanish colonists and brought to Cuba during the 16th through 19th centuries.
As Cuba's plantations expanded in the late 18th and 19th centuries, so did the slave trade. Most enslaved Africans in Cuba were Yoruba from Nigeria.
We would like to introduce to you the beauty of dances seeped in historical significance
Most of the dances are from the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria These dances originate from Yoruba traditions imported by enslaved Africans into Cuba . These slaves were controlled by the spanish and were forced to speak Spanish and convert to Christianity. In order to preserve their native religious traditions, the slaves gave their African dieties the names of Christian saints and thus continued to worship them . This religion is known as Santeria, and under disguise, many religious rituals, dances and musical traditions from Africa were preserved. Santeria is still practised in Cuba today.
Afro Cubano dance brings life to these Orishsas (saints) - Eleggua, Oggun, Oshun, Chango, Yemaya, Arara, Obatala, and many others.
This programme is run one weekend a month. Please click on the timetable for the next start dates.
UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA FOLKLORIC GROUP
LATIN CUBAN DANCE PROGRAMME
1st Term
Saturday 12/01/2008 – 29/03/2008
Units
1- Spanish Language.
2- Afro-cuban Dance.
3-Samba.
4-Cuban Popular Dance ( Casino; Cuban Salsa) and Cuban Dance Technique
2nd Term
Saturday 05/04/2008 – 28/07/2008
Units
1-Spanish Language.
2-Afro-Cuban Dance (Include singing & percusion)
3-Cuban Popular Dance.(Include casino; Cuban Salsa)
4-Samba & Reggaeton.( in rotation)
£120.00 Per unit for 3 months. Reduced rates available upon multi unit bookings
Please email the club for registration
