Moving Juntos -Adult/Teen Classes
CubaCaribe is pleased to offer a fantastic opportunity for you learn about Afro-Cuban Orishas (deities) in depth - their unique stories, their dance movements, and their music - all in one space! Denmis Bain and Michael Spiro, two of the Bay Area’s most celebrated master artists, will co-teach each two-hour class. In the course of the workshop, you will explore six key Orishas: Eleggua, Yemaya, Ochosi, Oshun, Oggun, and Obatala. Whether you are new to Afro-Cuban culture, or have already have experience, Moving Juntos will offer you a way to find joy and make connections in these cultural traditions!
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Workshops will run 1 Sunday a month for 6 months April - September.
Each class is 2 hours from 11:00 am -1:00 pm.
Ages 14 +
Instruments will be provided. Some skirts will be available for use.
FREE of charge. Donations appreciated.
Pre-Registration highly recommended. Limited capacity.
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Location:
Shawl-Anderson Dance Center
2704 Alcatraz Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94705
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Participants and teachers must be fully vaccinated or test negative within 72 hours and masked for entire class time
Classes made possible by the California Arts Council. Thank you!
2022 Full Schedule
Each class is from 11am - 1pm.
April 24th - Ellegua (Michael and Jose)
May 22nd - Yemaya (Michael and Jose)
June 26th - Ochosi (Michael and Denmis)
July 31st - Oshun (Michael and Denmis)
Aug 28th - Oggun (Michael and Denmis)
Sep 25th - Obatala (Michael and Denmis)
Known for his work in the Latin music field, Michael Spiro is an internationally recognized percussionist, educator and recording artist.
He is a ten-time Grammy nominee, and has produced seminal recordings in the Latin music genre, including ”Mabagwe,” “Canto América,” “BataKetu,” “BataMbira,” “Mark Levine and the Latin Tinge,” and “Grupo Ilu-Aña.” His performing and recording credits cover an array of internationally known artists: from such pop artists as David Byrne, Carlos Santana and Charlie Watts, to Latin music icons Eddie Palmieri, Israel Lopez (Cachao) and Richard Egues, to such jazz luminaries as Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Hutcherson and McCoy Tyner.
In 2017 he co-produced “Canto America” with his long-time working partner Wayne Wallace. It received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for a 2017 Grammy in the Latin-Jazz category. In 2019 he collaborated with Jose Luis Gomez to release a recording of contemporary Cuban rumba: “Mabagwe - a Tribute to the Elders.” Produced by his long-time musical colleague Jesús Diaz, the recording is dedicated to his Cuban mentors Regino Jimenez and Esteban Vega Bacallao ("Cha-Chá") and resulted in a nomination for a Cubadisco Premio in 2019 (the equivalent of the Cuban Grammies). Michael is the first foreigner to receive such an honor. This was followed by a co-production with Joe Galvin in 2020 of a performance/documentary “Los Bandos” filmed in the city of Matanzas, Cuba. This hour-long film explores the music of the original Matanzas rumba groups from over 100 years ago, and it was nominated for a Cubadisco Premio in 2021. Currently he is celebrating the release of his new production of Cuban charanga music by the group “Orquesta La Moderna Tradicion," entitled “Encantado.”
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.
Born and raised in Havana, José Francisco Barroso’s childhood was steeped in Cuba’s deeply expressive artistic and spiritual environment. From a very young age Barroso was dancing the popular styles of son, casino, rueda, and rumba and he describes these distinctly Cuban movements as “a symbol of vibrancy living in the Cuban people.” As a teenager, Barroso was discovered dancing hip hop on a street corner in Havana and mentored by director Juan de Dios in Cuba’s preeminent Compania Folklorica Raices Profundas. José now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he founded the Obakòso Drum & Dance Ensemble, and where he serves his community as a Babalawo (priest and folklorist). He performs sacred ceremonies for initiates in the Lucumi tradition, as well as teaches Afro-Cuban dance, drum, and song to people of all ages and cultures.
