CLASSES | DANCE | SONG | SKILL LEVELS | PERFORMANCE
![[photo of dance class]](IMAGES/dancefloor.jpeg)
The goal is to have dance and drum classes that are challenging and comfortable with students of similar skill levels grouped together. Refer to the guide below when choosing your dance level. Students who believe they are above Level 1 will be evaluated on Sunday, July 20 by the faculty and assigned an appropriate skill level. Students who are having difficulty keeping up in an advanced class may be asked to either stop participating and observe or move to a class that is more appropriate to the individual’s skill level.
DANCE INSTRUCTORS:
Two folkloric dance classes in each of the three skill levels will be offered each weekday. Instruction will provide a comprehensive study of the traditional Afro-Cuban dance repertoire of the Lucumi, Arara, Bantu, Carabali, Haitiano traditions, rumba, and conga de comparsa with an emphasis on orisha dances. Each class will be accompanied with live drumming.
Level 1 classes will acquaint students with the fundamental Afro-Cuban folkloric dances with an emphasis on the Orisha style. Each particular dance will be broken down slowly.
Level 2 classes will examine the folkloric repertoire with an emphasis on orisha dances. Dances may or may not be broken down, with an emphasis placed on the nuances of each dance.
![[photo of dance class]](IMAGES/dancersclose.jpeg)
Level
3 Dance will be conducted as a master class primarily for professionals, teachers and experts. Level 3 classes will focus on the folkloric repertoire with emphasis
on Orisha. Dances may or may not be broken down. These classes will move
quickly, with great emphasis on the nuance, subtleties, and characteristics
of each dance. May include choreography.
RUMBA DANCE: Evenings, July 19-20.
SALSA DANCE: Evenings, July 21, 23.
Instructor: Lazaro Galarraga
Six song classes will be offered through the week. Primary focus on orisha, with additional instruction drawn from the folkloric repertoire.
Level 1 - requires little or no prior experience with Afro-Cuban dance styles.
Level 2 - requires prior Afro-Cuban folkloric dance experience with the ability to keep up in a moderately fast paced environment. Participants must be:
- able to pick up moves and steps quickly
- familiar with the bembe/guiro step
- familiar with the fundamental orisha steps
Level 3 - Master class. For professional dancers, teachers, and performers of Afro-Cuban folkloric dance. Requires mastery of the fundamental orisha steps, and the ability to keep up in an extremely fast-paced, high energy environment. Intended for those with many years of experience in Afro-Cuban dance.
Sat., July 26: No student recital this year. Week-long participants are invited to attend the faculty performance, which is open to the public for a nominal admission charge. Students are invited to dance with faculty in the conga de comparsa.
PHOTOS:
1: José
Francisco Barroso (far right) teaching dance class,
1998 Explorations
in Afro-Cuban Dance & Drum
(Photo by Howard Kaufman)
2: Dance class participants, 1998 (Photo by Howard Kaufman)
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