Kelly Takunda Orphan is a San Francisco Bay Area native who has been singing, dancing, drumming, and writing and arranging music for decades. She has collaborated with many artists, from Cuba to Nigeria to Zimbabwe.  In 1994, she lived in Zimbabwe and studied ethnomusicology at the University of Zimbabwe, where she performed for President Nelson Mandela and other African presidents and dignitaries. Also in the 1990s, Kelly studied Cuban and Latin Jazz music with Louie Romero and other teaching artists and professors at San Jose State University. In 2016, she spent a month in Cuba, studying percussion and dance in both Havana and Santiago. Recently, she released her 3rd album, ‘Mafaro eZimbabwe,’ which pays tribute to her Zimbabwean teachers, family and friends, as well as the traditional music she has studied with passion. Kelly performs with a number of musical groups in the Bay Area, including her own group, The KTO Project. Kelly is excited to work with CubaCaribe and support young people in rhythm and movement.

Denmis Bain was born August 9th in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. He grew up always surrounded by love which helped to stimulate his passion for the arts. Denmis was taught at a young age that happiness comes from within and the importance to live life to the fullest. He has embraced this concept and strived to pass on his love for life and express his happiness through dance.

Denmis received the majority of his formal training in Cuba. He attended Regino Eladio Voti en Guantanamo, Escuela Nacional de Arte in Havana and was a part of Conjuncto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba. 

Denmis is probably most known for his work with the Havana Nights Dance Company. He toured and performed in more than 16 different countries and was a lead dancer in about 450 performances of "Havana Nightclub - The Show". The performances received standing ovations and outstanding reviews from critics and audiences all around. The tour ended in Las Vegas, Nevada with intentions of returning back to Cuba afterwards. 

Denmis has taught for students of all ages and backgrounds. His teaching venues have been regular scheduled classes at Stanford University and Mt Diablo Unified School District. He also has taught for festivals and workshops around the world. Dennis is currently the owner of Cuban Rhythm and Rumba Dance Studio located in Vallejo, California. With a goal to show everyone how to feel and appreciate dance, Denmis Bain is sure to get into your heart and touch your soul. 

Ramón Ramos Alayo was selected by the Cuban government to study dance in Santiago de Cuba at age eleven. In 1990 he earned a masters degree in contemporary and folkloric dance and dance education from the Havana's National School of Art. a graduate of Havana’s National School of Art, specializing in folkloric and contemporary dance. He was a principal dancer with several prominent Cuban dance companies, including Danza del Caribe, Narcisco Medina Contemporary Dance Company, touring throughout Europe, Belize, and Canada. His success continued after relocating to the U.S. in 1997; he has performed as a dancer with numerous outstanding companies, including Robert Henry Johnson, Kim Epifano, Sara Shelton Mann, Zaccho Dance Theatre and Robert Moses’ Kin. Ramon currently teaches Cuban popular dance, Afro-Cuban modern dance and children's movement at several local dance studios and schools. 

He is respected throughout the Bay Area as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and the founder and artistic director and choreographer of Alayo Dance Company (2002) and CubaCaribe (2003).  As director and choreographer, his work is an innovative fusion of Afro-Cuban modern, folkloric and popular Cuban Dance. He eloquently articulates his aesthetic vision through a synthesis of these dance styles, citing from each traditions, movements, narratives and concepts indicative of Cuban culture.