"Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance & Drum" 2009
Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 4:47 am
From Howie Kaufman:
Hello Afro-Cuban Enthusiasts,
I am pleased to announce that the "Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance & Drum" 2009 website has been updated recently.
Please visit http://www.humboldt.edu/afrocuban for the latest details. Please forward this to any friends you think would be interested.
Highlights this year include:
1) An extra drum instructional strand during the afternoon dance class with John Santos and Jesus Diaz. John will be giving three lectures examining the tumbadora’s path and evolution, including listening examples of rare recordings and conceptual, and technical aspects of the instrument and its related rhythms. Jesus Diaz will instruct a hands-on rhythm section ensemble class for timbales, drum set, congas, and other percussion instruments used in modern Cuban music. Both classes will be open to all levels.
2) Roman Diaz, drummer for Yoruba Andabo, Raices Profundas, and Pancho Quinto, will be joining us for the first time this year. I have scheduled Roman to teach advanced classes on Abacua, Conga de Comparsa, and Rumba (Yoruba Andabo style) and Batá.
3) Sandy Pérez (Grupo Afro-Cuba) and Toto Beriel (Los Muñequitos) will bring the Matanzas drumming and singing styles to the forefront. Sandy will teach advanced classes on Bata Rumba and Olokun drumming. Toto will teach classes on Rumba and Bembe.
4) The legendary Francisco Aguabella, one of the last remaining drummers from his generation, will again inspire all of us with his power and strength on the drum. He will be teaching Intermediate and Advanced Batá, and Comparsa,
5) The legendary Lazaro Galarraga will once again lead our song classes and also teach some advanced Batá classes.
6) Reynaldo Gonzalez (Grupo Afro-Cuba) and Freila Merencio (Raices Profundas, Yoruba Andabo) will be teaching dance twice per day and leading students in a performance of Comparsa for the final show. Rey’s energy keeps the evening parties going with his singing and dancing. Freila and Rey will again co-teach a rumba dance class on the first weekend and Freila will teach popular dance on a couple of evenings.
7) Michael Spiro will breakdown the guaguanco with exercises and lessons on the unique phrasing and style of playing Cuba’s most popular rhythm.
We have also added a beginning dance class, which will breakdown the primary movements for the different Orishas. This will be a great class for those of us who do not Orisha dance regularly, or for those dancers who want a foundation class to build from.
I could go on, but I encourage you to check out the website. I must mention that our evening Rumba parties have become legendary. With the 2009 All-Star Faculty listed above, I know that this summer will be nothing short of amazing.
Thanks for your attention! Hope to see you this summer!
Howie Kaufman
Founder and Coordinator of the
Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance and Drum Program
Humboldt State University
Hello Afro-Cuban Enthusiasts,
I am pleased to announce that the "Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance & Drum" 2009 website has been updated recently.
Please visit http://www.humboldt.edu/afrocuban for the latest details. Please forward this to any friends you think would be interested.
Highlights this year include:
1) An extra drum instructional strand during the afternoon dance class with John Santos and Jesus Diaz. John will be giving three lectures examining the tumbadora’s path and evolution, including listening examples of rare recordings and conceptual, and technical aspects of the instrument and its related rhythms. Jesus Diaz will instruct a hands-on rhythm section ensemble class for timbales, drum set, congas, and other percussion instruments used in modern Cuban music. Both classes will be open to all levels.
2) Roman Diaz, drummer for Yoruba Andabo, Raices Profundas, and Pancho Quinto, will be joining us for the first time this year. I have scheduled Roman to teach advanced classes on Abacua, Conga de Comparsa, and Rumba (Yoruba Andabo style) and Batá.
3) Sandy Pérez (Grupo Afro-Cuba) and Toto Beriel (Los Muñequitos) will bring the Matanzas drumming and singing styles to the forefront. Sandy will teach advanced classes on Bata Rumba and Olokun drumming. Toto will teach classes on Rumba and Bembe.
4) The legendary Francisco Aguabella, one of the last remaining drummers from his generation, will again inspire all of us with his power and strength on the drum. He will be teaching Intermediate and Advanced Batá, and Comparsa,
5) The legendary Lazaro Galarraga will once again lead our song classes and also teach some advanced Batá classes.
6) Reynaldo Gonzalez (Grupo Afro-Cuba) and Freila Merencio (Raices Profundas, Yoruba Andabo) will be teaching dance twice per day and leading students in a performance of Comparsa for the final show. Rey’s energy keeps the evening parties going with his singing and dancing. Freila and Rey will again co-teach a rumba dance class on the first weekend and Freila will teach popular dance on a couple of evenings.
7) Michael Spiro will breakdown the guaguanco with exercises and lessons on the unique phrasing and style of playing Cuba’s most popular rhythm.
We have also added a beginning dance class, which will breakdown the primary movements for the different Orishas. This will be a great class for those of us who do not Orisha dance regularly, or for those dancers who want a foundation class to build from.
I could go on, but I encourage you to check out the website. I must mention that our evening Rumba parties have become legendary. With the 2009 All-Star Faculty listed above, I know that this summer will be nothing short of amazing.
Thanks for your attention! Hope to see you this summer!
Howie Kaufman
Founder and Coordinator of the
Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance and Drum Program
Humboldt State University