We are approaching a milestone and are ecstatic to be celebrating our 5th anniversary, contributing to the development
of not only the Cuban dance scene in Toronto, but most importantly to the happiness of so many people, through the dance
classes, events and shows we organize. We could not have done it without the participation of all of you, past and
present students, volunteers, assistants, dancers, and community in general!
Come join us for our 5th Anniversary Party, an event bigger and better than any of the previous ones, where you will enjoy
hours of the best in Cuban Salsa, Timba, and even some Zouk, Kizomba, and Samba, and presentations by our 5th Student Performance Group
and AfroLatino's professional dancers. We don't even have to mention our usual complimentary lesson, door prizes, and delicious
hors d'oeuvres.
In store for you:
DJ Alberth Moreno
Student Performance
Performance by AfroLatino's professional dancers
Hors d'oeuvres
Door prizes
Complimentary lesson
A whola lotta fun!!!!!!
When:
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Schedule:
6pm - Doors open
7-7:30pm - Complimentary lesson
8:30pm - Performances and door prizes
12am - Doors close
Price:
$15 in advance, $20 at the door
Where:
Lithuanian House, 1573 Bloor St. West (1 block west of Dundas West subway station)
I Am Cuba: AfroLatino's Cuban Cabaret Show at Lula Lounge
May 8, 2010
Afrolatino Dance Company and Roberto Linares Brown bring us this sizzling Cuban cabaret, reminiscent of a night at Havana's
Tropicana - complete with beautiful show girls and live Cuban orchestra featuring special guests Changuito, Telmary, Angel
Luis, Alberto Alberto and Yani Borrel.With DJ Billy Bryans.
Albena de Assis, founder of Afrolatino has been a major force in creating and fostering the Cuban salsa scene that Toronto
now enjoys, increasing awareness of the cultural roots of Cuban dance through lessons, performances and a partnership with
groundbreaking presenters Okokan Productions. Afrolatino will treat the audience to a special cuban dance review as part of Lula's
I am Cuba LULAWOLRD presentation.
The performance will be followed by a dance lesson by Ana Machado. A professional dancer since she was 6 years old, Ana has
danced with Havana's Escuela Nacional de la Danza, the prestigious Compania de la Danza Moderna and as lead dancer in the
famous Tropicana dance troupe, with which she has toured the globe.
Bandleader/arranger/pianist/composer extraordinaire Roberto Linares Brown was a catalyst for the creation of Lula Lounge's
popular Havana Norte series which has featured a who's who of Toronto-based Cuban musicans. Linares Brown has been
contributing to the series since 2006 performing original compositions that became the basis of his brilliant 2008 solo
release, "Que No Se Pierda La Essencia".
A night focussing on the riches of Cuban dance culture would be incomplete without DJ Billy Bryans. As one of the best salsa
DJs in Toronto, as well as a promoter and publicist, Billy has been pivotal in bringing the music of Cuba to a wider Canadian audience.
Where:
Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas Street West (1 1/2 blocks west of Dufferin)
When:
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Schedule:
8pm - AfroLatino Show
9pm - Free dance lesson
10pm - Roberto Linares Orchestra with special guests
Price:
$20
Zouk & Kizomba Party
April 3, 2010
Once again Bunda Entertainment and DJ Kyabu, the leader in the Zouk movement in the city of Toronto, is
bringing Zouk Series back with the "Danforth Edition" at the legendary Ice Lounge.
An elegant and sexy atmosphere, where those that understand sensual style and want to be part of the
hottest exclusive entertainment offering in the city of Toronto, will converge to dance and enjoy the
seductive rhythms of the Afro-Caribbean musical pandora with Zouk, Compa, Kizomba, Kuduro, Coupe Decale
and the best of top 40.
For the Zouk/Kizomba lovers the wait is over, as we are offering what you have been waiting for.
Dress code in full effect! We are asking the ladies to go all out and wow us and the men to match the
ladies in style and elegance... So put some thought into it!
When:
Saturday, April 3, 2010 Doors open at 10pm
Where:
Ice Lounge, 560 Danforth Avenue
Price:
Ladies $5 until 11pm, $10 after; Gentlemen $10
For more info call 647.802.8404.
3rd Cuban Dance Workshop Trip
February 15 - 22, 2010
Experience Cuban dancing at its best!
It's that time of the year, for our long awaited annual Cuban Dance Trip! This perfect one-week package includes flight, 5 star hotel in
historical Old Havana, 15 hours of intensive dance instruction with professional cuban dancers,
and tons of fun. You can attest the fun and great experience our first
and second trips were, so we are pretty sure this one will be a
popular one as well.
Package includes:
Return airfare Toronto - Havana
Cuban Dance Workshop (see below)
8 days/7 nights accomodation in 5 star hotel, breakfast included, at walking distance from Old Havana and workshops
Airport/hotel transfers
Workshop includes:
15 hours of intensive instruction
Professionally trained, experienced instructors
Cuban dance partner for each participant
Sessions featuring live band
Instruction in Salsa, Casino, Son, Cha Cha Cha, Mambo, Rumba and Afro-Cuban
Course certificate
Dates:
February 15-22, 2010
Cost (based on 13 participants):
$1,625 (double occupancy)
Prices include all taxes, but are subject to change.
Deposit of $800 required by November 1st, 2009, in order to secure travel package.
Note: For deposits provided after the total package
price might differ to reflect current ticket/hotel market prices
AfroLatino's 3rd Winter Party
January 31, 2010
What better way to celebrate the beginning of a new year and a new decade than with one of our famous parties?
Our 3rd Winter Party was a great success despite the last minute tribulations caused by the venue double booking,
and subsequent change of venue.
The new venue, the Lithuanian House, proved to be just perfect in size and intimate
atmosphere it created. The excellent location (a few meters away from the subway), size, and self-containment of
the hall were some of its favourite points. Definitely a venue worth booking again in the future.
The highlights of the night were the 3rd Student Salsa Group Performance, whose costumes were the talk of party,
AfroLatino's own Cesar and Yareneys impressive son and cha cha cha performance, as well as the amazing dancing
provided by the music of DJ Alberth Moreno and DJ Kyabu, a great team who brought you the best in Cuban Salsa, Timba,
Reggaeton, Zouk and Kizomba.
Holiday Party at 585
December 12, 2009 - 585 Yonge Street Studio
We can hardly believe but it's almost the end of one more year! A very exciting year that had its
share of ups and downs, from the economic downturn that hit everyone, to more achievements such as
the 2nd Student Trip to Cuba, great Winter and Anniversary Parties, another successful Cuban Dance
Festival Week, and one more concert by Pupy y Los Que Son Son.
The wonderful group of people that has passed by our classes has made this year a very satisfying one.
It is the experience with our students that makes teaching so rewarding.
We would like to invite you for a Holiday celebration and student appreciation event on Saturday,
December 12, during our Salsa Practice session.
In addition to the usual dancing, we will have
food and drinks, all for the usual price of $5, plus a popular idea from last year: POT LUCK!
Bring something to share with others and you will get in for free!
When:
Saturday, December 12, 2009 7-9:30pm
Where:
585 Yonge St. Studio
Price:
only $5 or FREE IF YOU BRING SOMETHING TO SHARE WITH OTHERS
2009 Cuban Dance Festival
October 20-25, 2009
Once again it has been proven that the popularity of Cuban dance and music in Toronto is growing steadily. This year's Cuban Dance Week was a tremendous success with many memorable and enjoyable moments! From great workshops to great shows, it is the closest we get to a Cuban dance congress here n Toronto!!!
Some of the most popular workshops were Duane Wrenn's Casino con Sabor, Cesar and Yareneys' Reggaeton, as well as Consuelo Herrera's Afro-Cuban and Rumba.
Pupy y Los Que Son Son gave a memorable concert, almost bringing the house down together with Candido Fabré that got the crowd hysterical with his amazing improvised storytelling skills. AfroLatino Dance Company received a huge round of applause for their Cumbanchero choreography, a Cuban cabaret style piece.
To end the fabulous week we had a well attended party on Sunday, at our 585 Yonge Street studio. Consuelo and Duane's surprised us with a sensual rumba and an inspiring casino dance. Truly an inspiration!
Kizomba Show and Party with Nichols
September 19, 2009
One of the great names of Zouk came to Toronto for a one night show and party, with special participation of
AfroLatino Dance Company's own dancers performing a kizomba number.
Produced by Bunda Entertainment, Toronto's premier promoters of Zouk, Kizomba, and other sounds from the African
diaspora, this was a great night of sensual dancing!
Kizomba is one of the most popular genres of dance and music created in Angola, that is becoming more and more popular
in Europe. It shares a common rhythm with Zouk from the French Caribbean islands, with the main difference being the
the language that is sung in.
AfroLatino's 4th Anniversary Party
June 21, 2009
If you missed our 4th Anniversary Party you missed quite the party! From the great
dancing, food, performances and our first ever Amateur Salsa Competition, to Toronto's debut
of Kizomba, the crowd was roaring with excitement.
A special congratulations to the top 3 couples in our first Amateur Cuban Salsa Competition:
1st Place:
Sherwin Abrazaldo & Sanja Majstorovic
2nd Place:
Vicken Serkis & Shogher Mnknjian
3rd Place:
Yurii Yavorskyi & Sally Ibrahim
Isaac's Welcome Weekend Bash
March 28-29, 2009
Our long-time and popular instructor, Isaac Herrera a.k.a. Energizer Bunny, is coming back to Toronto after
6 months in Germany. The celebration will start with a special Salsa Practice with snacks and drinks on
Saturday, March 28, and continue with a student night out to Babaluu on Sunday, March 29. Come join us for a
great weekend of dancing and socializing!
If you know Isaac from before this is a great opportunity to catch up with what he has been up to and just
welcome him back. If you haven't met him yet, then this is your opportunity to marvel at his non-stoppable
energy for dancing as well as just a plain excuse for socializing with everyone else!
Here is the plan:
Saturday, March 28
What: Drinks and snacks on the house at our Salsa Practice, plus tons of dancing When: 7 to 9pm Where: 585 Yonge Street studio Price: $5 a person
Sunday, March 29
What: Student night out to Babaluu, the best Cuban dance night in the city! When: 9:30pm til 2am Where: Babaluu Nightclub, 136 Yorkville Ave., Toronto Price: $7 for men incl. coatcheck, free for women
Dance from the Soul Weekend in Detroit
March 14-15, 2009
Organized by our dear friends from Energetic Soul,
the cuban dance school by excellence in Detroit, Michigan, this
great weekend of dance proved to be a great success and a blast!
The weekend featured body movement workshops by our very own Albena de Assis, Rueda de Casino workshops with
Julian Mejia from Salsa Atlanta,
as well as by Duane Wrenn of Energetic Soul.
Testimonials
"Thank you [Albena] so much for taking time out of your schedule, to put on the workshops at Energetic Soul. Thank also for the dance, it was a real joy to dance with you!! Come back soon."
Gregory Wright
"I had a great time at the dance workshop in Detroit. What a great group of instructors."
Rena Gibeau
"Albena, thank you so much for coming to Energetic Soul [in Detroit]. Your technique is amazing and your spirit is so sweet. We can hardly wait for the next time we can steal you away from Toronto again! Be blessed..."
Keisha Grant
2nd Cuban Dance Workshop Trip
February 08-15, 2009
A reprise of the previous Cuban Dance Workshop trip to Havana, we've been graced with amazing weather
and many different events in town apart from the always challenging and wonderful instruction received.
It was delightful to go for live concerts of Los Van Van, Pupy y Los Que Son Son,
Adalberto Alvarez, and Buena Vista Social Club, performances by the Conjunto
Folklórico Nacional, Cabaret Parisien, and the National Ballet of Cuba, all in a matter of a week!
Definitely only in Havana.
In a similar fashion to last year's trip, the course included:
15 hours of intensive instruction
Professionally trained, experienced instructors
Cuban dance partner for each participant
Sessions featuring live band
Instruction in Rumba (Guanguancó and Columbia), Casino, Son, Cha Cha Cha, Mambo, etc
Course certificate
AfroLatino's 2nd Winter Party
February 1st, 2009
Another Winter party to open the year with a bang, and another success! The highlights of the party
were perhaps the exquisit performance by AfroLatino's 2nd Salsa Student Performance Group, which received
a standing ovation. AfroLatino's professional group also presented new work with inspiring choreography
and a cascade of colours in elaborate costumes.
Testimonials
"I didn't get a chance to says thanks for all the extra practice time, for the awesome costume idea and all the patient instruction (even when we thought we could never learn the stuff you were coming up with lol)! It was sooo much fun and all our friends liked it.That said, please please plan another one! "
Sally Ibrahim
AfroLatino's 3rd Anniversary Party
June 22, 2008
Many thanks to all who came to our 3rd Anniversary party, and made it such a great success. Special
thanks to all the students who performed to great delight from the crowd. The feedback has been so amazing
that we will definitely do it again. Lula Lounge was packed almost to capacity and it turned out to be the
perfect spot in terms of size and atmosphere.
Testimonials
"The party was really great. Thank you soo much for organizing the performance group. It was honestly the best dancing experience I have ever had. Also, I really have to thank you for encouraging us during the performance itself. I messed up a lot of times, and while I almost had a mini heart attack each time, you were in the front smiling the entire time. That was very nice of you. THANK YOU!"
Sally Ibrahim
"Thanks a lot and congratulations for last night, it was a great party, and the show was really good too!"
Alix Reboul-Salze
"I really loved the energy this [student salsa performance] group had and especially the part where the rueda began, every single dancer brought a burst of energy to the floor"
Rocío Medalla
Cuban Dance Festival
May 24-25, 2008
AfroLatino Dance Company and Okokan
Productions are bringing to Toronto the most exciting event of the year: a full weekend of the best in Cuban dance and music!
You will be enjoying the sounds of no other than the great
Pupy y Los Que Son Son, and the classes of guest teachers such as
Felix "Pupy" Insua,
Ana Machado,
and Duane Wrenn and Maribel Vasquez.
Prices & Packages: (Early bird offer valid until May 14)
Package Type
Early Bird
Regular
Special
Full Weekend
$115
$140
Full Weekend Pass
plus
Pupy y Los Que Son Son ticket for $160 (additional $10 off)
Saturday Classes
$55
$65
Sunday Classes
$80
$95
Drop-in
$35
$40
Location: All workshops will be held at our 585 Yonge Street studio.
Afro-Cuban Master Workshop with Felix Pupy Insua
May 23, 2008
Felix "Pupy" Insua, Choreographer, Teacher, Dancer and Director
of Oriki Omi Oddara Dance Company,
is coming to Toronto, for a 3rd time to teach a series of workshops as part of the Cuban Dance Festival.
A former member of both Conjunto Folklorico Nacional and Yoruba Andabo, the two biggest
folkloric companies in Cuba, Insua brings a wealth of knowledge in Afro-Cuban dances and traditions.
Clip of Insua dancing, from Calle 54 documentary
Description:
This workshop is designed for those who have afro-cuban dance experience and
will focus mainly on Orishas dances and movement.
Date:
Friday, May 23, 2008
Time:
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Place:
585 Production Studio
585 Yonge Street, 2nd Floor
Price:
Early Bird (before May 14) $30
With Cuban Dance Full Weekend Pass $25
Regular $40
Contact us by
e-mail or call 416-671-7140
to book your spot. Workshop limited to 20 people max!
1st Cuban Dance Workshop Trip
February 11-18, 2008
A week was way too short for everything this trip had to offer. While the
beach and the weather were marvelous, perfect to escape the dreaded Canadian
Winter, the highlight of the trip was by far the competent and fun
dance instruction provided at the daily workshops.
The course included:
15 hours of intensive instruction
Professionally trained, experienced instructors
Cuban dance partner for each participant
Sessions featuring live band
Instruction in Rumba (Guanguancó), Casino, Son, Cha Cha Cha, Mambo, etc
Course certificate
Testimonials
"Amazing, amazing, amazing! I wanted to sign up for the next trip before I left
Cuba. I really felt as if I got to participate in Cuban culture and I loved
being in Havana. The workshops were challenging at times but exhilarating
and all the helpers were amazing dancers. I think the highlight of the workshop
was having a live band playing, now I can really hear the different instruments
when I listen to the music. Everyone was really welcoming and hospitable and
the accommodations while basic were sufficient because we really didn't spend
much time there. I found the group that I travelled with lots of fun. I would
recommend this trip to anyone, it's a must if you like cuban music and dance."
Beat those dreadful winter blues and come join us for an amazing night of Latin entertainment
and partying hosted by AfroLatino Dance Company. Free salsa lessons, door prizes, hors d'oeuvres,
performances, and many hours of the best cuban salsa and timba music.
What you will get:
DJ Billy Bryans spinning the finest and latest salsas and timbas
Performances by AfroLatino Dance Co.
Door prizes
Free salsa beginner and intermediate lessons
Hors d'oeuvres
Lots of fun!
Date:
Sunday, January 27, 2008, from 6pm 'til 11pm
Program:
6pm - Doors open
6:30-7pm - Free salsa lessons
8:30-9pm - Performances and door prizes
Location:
Revival Bar and Restaurant
783 College St. (southeast corner at Shaw)
Tickets:
$15 in advance / $20 at the door
AfroLatino's 2nd Anniversary Party
June 24, 2007
Come celebrate with us our 2nd Anniversary, with a full out party, the AfroLatino's way!
What you will get:
DJ Billy Bryans spinning the finest and latest salsas and timbas
Performances by AfroLatino Dance Co.
Door prizes
Free salsa beginner and intermediate lessons
Hors d'oeuvres
Lots of fun!
Date:
Sunday, June 24, 2007, from 6pm 'til 11pm
Program:
6pm - Doors open
6:30-7pm - Free salsa lessons
8:30-9pm - Performances and door prizes
Location:
Dragonfly
1279 Queen St. West (2 blocks west of Dufferin)
Tickets:
$10 in advance / $15 at the door
AfroLatino's 2006 Showcase
AfroLatino Dance Company and Blue Sankofa Inc. presented an hour long
show, at the Betty Oliphant Theatre. Calle Mia was a fusion of Latin and Urban
cultures, through dance, singing, and spoken word works.
"I loved the show and was very impressed with the skill and artistry of your
dancers and the imagination of your choreography. I look forward to seeing you on
Thursday - with extra inspiration to learn and improve!" said Rich Morrow.
"...[I] was really impressive. I really like the variety of the show and the cabaret
flavour. Congratulations for this spectacular work..." said Laurent Briollais, another spectator.
Click on the thumbnails below for more images from the show:
AfroLatino Dance Company and Blue Sankofa Inc. presented an hour long
show, at the Betty Oliphant Theatre. Calle Mia was a fusion of Latin and Urban
cultures, through dance, singing, and spoken word works.
