AFRO RUMBA FESTIVAL 2012

Cuba is the outcome of an extraordinary mix of races and cultural influences, and for this reason its culture can be described as syncretic and blended. Nonetheless, among the contributions composing its multicultural heritage, there are two elements which have influenced the most the Isla Grande and its population: the Spanish and African traditions. In about three centuries of slavery and trade of several African ethnic groups to Cuba, different cultural features of these people have ended up rooting and blending with the dominating culture of “Conquistadores”, thus giving birth to a melting pot of traditions, languages and cultures and originating the distinctive feature of Cuba’s national identity: the “afrocubania”, with all its musical, artistic and dancing expressions.

Since the day Caribbean dances, salsa and Cuban casino started spreading throughout Europe, a growing number of people has showed interest about Afro-Cuban folklore but, despite the ever-growing number of classes, congresses and happenings dedicated to salsa and popular Caribbean dances, Afro-Cuban folkloric dance and culture have always played a second-level role in any type of event. Recently, a group of Afro-Cuban tradition lovers, who met and made friends thanks to the classes of maestro Mario Quintín Jiménez “El Rumbero Mayor”, has become aware of this lack and of the growing interest in Afro-Cuban folklore and has realized that time had come to organize a festival which is completely devoted to folkloric dances (afro and rumba).

Afro Rumba Festival is the first Italian event dedicated to Afro-Cuban folkloric culture and was born in 2008 upon initiative of Mario Quintín Jiménez and “Pero Yá” cultural association. This festival has managed to put together the élite of Cuba’s folkloric dance and tens of fans and lovers of Cuban folklore. However, the real protagonists of the first two editions were undoubtedly the lively spirit and the mood of collective and contagious joy which could be felt both during classes and during breaks.

This year, Mario Quintín and Pero Yá are introducing the third edition of "Afro Rumba Festival”, which will take place on 17 and 18 March 2012. The event will be hosted in the Serena Majestic Hotel Residence on the Adriatic Sea, in the enchanted scenario of MonteSilvano, a lovely village near Pescara, in the Abruzzo region. The classes of Yoruba, Congo, Abakua and Haitian dances, together with those of Rumba and popular dances like Son, Pilon, Mozambique and Conga will be held in three different rooms starting from early Saturday afternoon until Sunday evening, and most of them will be accompanied by live percussions played by Humberto “La Pelicula”, Reynaldo Hernandez, Yoandy Armenteros and Giovanni Imparato. Among this year’s new introductions, we must mention classes of salsa with rumba hints and a fourth room completely devoted to beginners or people who have had just a few classes of Afro-Cuban folklore. As usual, the cast of teachers will be “cream of the crop”, as they were chosen among the best Cuban professionals such as Aida Sanchez, Alberto Valdés, Ana Labrada, Arelys Savon, Danielson Coello Ortega, Dayami Couret, Dawes Figueroa, Irma Castillo, Lazaro Martin Diaz, Leonardo Martinez Moya, Mario Quintín, Rafael Hernandez, Rayda Salas, Septimo Jimenez, Sergio Larrinaga and Ulises Mora.

The Saturday night party will host a show performed by the whole cast of artists followed by a night of pure Cuban timba music by DJ Ivan El Samurai de Cuba.