Learn about Cuban dance and culture from dancer and musician Roberto Borrell, who has over fifty years of experience in popular dance forms (danzon, son, son montuno, cha cha cha), folkloric (Yoruba, Dahomey, Abakua), rumba and comparsa!

Roberto Borrell Cuban Dance Weekend March 26-28

Friday night
Timba: Dancing in Time
Lecture/demo at Spitfire Grill in Belltown
Music and video from Roberto’s collection along with live dance demonstration in his fluid, effortless style!
7:30 pm

Saturday
At My World Dance and Fitness Studio
1-2:30 Folkloric dance class
4-5 Lecture-style listening class
5-6:15 Popular dance

Sunday
At My World Dance and Fitness Studio
1-2:30 Folkloric dance class
3-4 Listening class
4-5:15 Popular dance

Timba: Dancing in Time
7 pm at SLAB Georgetown (south branch of Seattle Drum School)

Folkloric Dance $18
Popular $15
Listening $12
Friday lecture demo: $5
Sunday lecture demo: pay what you can!

The Cuban Bootcamp Special!
Folkloric + Popular $28
Listening + Popular $24

Locations:

My World Dance and Fitness Studio
849 Hiawatha Place South
Seattle, WA 98144

Spitfire Bar and Grill
2219 4th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121-2058

Seattle Drum School Georgetown
1010 S. Bailey
Seattle, WA 98108

Description of classes

Folkloric: mostly Yoruba (Lucumi) dance with emphasis on footwork and its correspondence to the rhythms of the batá drums. Great foundational class for beginners and experienced dancers alike.

Popular: Dance traditions from early twentieth century to the sixties (mas ó menos): danzón, danzón-cha, son, son montuno, cha cha cha. Emphasis on footwork and proper body mechanics along with Roberto’s unique perspective on historical and social contexts. Again, a great foundational class for beginners and experienced dancers.

Listening class: lecture-style class with detailed explanations of popular dance song structure and musical cues for dancers. This is a rare opportunity to learn about the evolution of Cuban musical styles from danzón to son and son montuno through cha cha cha from Roberto’s unique perspective as a dancer and musician for fifty years. Great for both musicians and dancers.

Roberto is also available for private lessons, and can be reached at duquesne1@hotmail.com

Questions? 206/353-3527
Email mowimbale@yahoo.com

Updates on Facebook group Roberto Borrell in Seattle: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=167304009898

Bio from the Roots of Timba Project in San Francisco:
Roberto Borrell learned traditional and popular Afro-Cuban dance, percussion, and song from master musicians and dancers while growing up in la Havana Vieja, Havana, Cuba. He is a respected dancer and percussionist of Afro-Cuban Yoruba, Abakua (Calabar), Rumba, Arará (Dahony), and Palo (Congo). He also is an expert in pronunciation of the non-Spanish languages one must use to sing these Afro-Cuban genres, as well as being a master dancer and teacher of Cuban popular dance styles such as son montuno, danzón, and cha cha cha.
Roots of Timba Project

http://www.creativeworkfund.org/modern/bios/roberto_borrell.html

Bio from Boogalu Productions:

http://www.boogalu.com/generic_roberto.borrell.html

Roberto’s Youtube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/robertoborrell

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