Cuba Education Tours, Turner Music & Events and The Cellar Restaurant and Jazz Club are pleased to present the
2008 Havana International Latin Dance and Music Festival Cuba.

Baila en Cuba [Dance in Cuba] is an annual International Latin Dance and Music Festival. It is for students and lovers of Cuban dance and music.

Join us from November 22 to 29, 2008 and learn to dance Rueda de Casino, Salsa, Son, Rumba and Cha Cha Chá like a professional. Return home and teach your friends.

Dance instruction by twelve island masters and their assistants who serve as your partner, and live music accompaniment.

Eight days of dance pageantry, competitions and lessons for lovers of Cuban dance and music. Meet your Cuban dance master instructors! Attend morning dance workshops and learn Salsa, Rueda de Casino, Rumba, Son and Cha Cha Chá. Afternoons are filled with guided excursions to caves, botanical gardens, architectural, historical and nature sites, artist studios, visits to a cigar factory and an afrocuban community, and the white sand beaches of eastern Havana. Evenings are packed with gala "Baila en Cuba" [Dance in Cuba] events where you'll hear Cuba's best bands perform just for you and your dancemates.

Check out the Havana International Latin Dance and Music Festival Cuba Tour 2008 at cubadance.ca

Cities and Provinces You’ll Visit

• Havana City and Havana Province
• Viñales Valley and Pinar del Río

Included in Latin Dance and Music Festival Cuba Tour Costs

• Group transfers to and from Havana's José Martí International Airport
• Seven nights at Hotel Saint John (Breakfast included)
• Luxury air conditioned coach for all the activities in the program
• Expert English speaking guide and translator throughout the program
• Accreditation to participate in:
  • 5 nights of concerts by Cuba’s top popular music bands (Van Van, Charanga Habanera, Manolito Simonet, Puppy y los que Son Son, Pablito FG, etc)
  • 5 dance classes with individual instruction by prestigious Cuban professors for students at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Techniques addressed are rhythm, movement fundamentals for women and men, and Afrocuban movement. Dance styles include Salsa, Rumba, Son, Cha Cha Cha, Mambo, and Rueda de Casino. Students receive an official Certificate of Completion. Courses are taught in English.
• All entrance fees and activites not listed in the itineraries as “optional,” “on your own,” or “not included in cost.”

Get ready to shake your booty to the pulsating sounds of Cuba's greatest bands and performers at Baila en Cuba. You'll recognize these names as Latin music greats. Their presence and prominence at Baila en Cuba constitutes a virtual Latin music festival. Here's a profile of thirteen groups you'll hear, and there are more waiting for you in Havana.

Adalberto Alvarez y su son
Pianist, composer, arranger and orchestral director, Adalberto Alvarez is undoubtedly the Cuban sonero of excellence. Possessing a personal and unmistakable harmonic and melodic style, "The Knight of Son," has won renown for his innovations and contributions to this traditional and contemporary on the Latin scene today.

Juan Formell y los Van Van
When talking about Cuban music, one orchestra over the decades continues to grab the charts and audiences. The extraordinary dynamic created between tradition and contemporary music streams by Juan Formell and Los Van Van has earned them a privileged place in Cuba and globally.

Pachito Alonso y sus Kini Kini
A performance by Pachito in Cuba convokes youngsters and not-so-young to dance in joy to his hot music. Kini Kini qualifies one of the best island orchestras and boasts excellence and professionalism, thus its popularity. Versatility and singularity of style distinguished Kini Kini from the rest offering such magnificence that it becomes unforgettable.

Paulo FG y su Elite
Paulito FG is a power-packed musician and artist who shines in performance. He's managed to rise to top positions on the national charts. His music expresses heart of the streets, sung as poetry by a minstrel not shy of reflecting life as it is. He blended diverse streams of rock, ballad, jazz and son with fresh lyrics in unique combinations that have won him many fans.

José Luis Cortés y NG La Banda
For many this group is the ruling Cuban orchestra, for others it is the new hope for island music. Since José Luis Cortés (El Tosco) and his members created NG (New Generation) La Banda and a new sonority that integrates components of jazz, rap and salsa, they've renewed the Cuban musical environment and gaining popularity around the world.

Anacaona
Founded by Concepción Castro in 1932, Anacaona was the first Cuban son women's group performing jazz and charanga. Today Anacaona has thirteen female members who blend traditional and contemporary rhythms in knockout shows. Also known as Las Mulatísimas del Sabor, Anacaona is considered one of the major forces in Cuban popular dance music globally.

Leonel Limonta y Azúcar Negra
The musical team Azúcar Negra was founded in 1998 and is led by director and composer Leonel Limonta. Band members hail from many schools of music. They've focused on social topics with popular roots and blend rhythms and sounds for a style all their own. Their songs rank high on the charts making them tops with Cuban dancers.

César de las Mercedes Pedroso Fernández
Everybody calls him "Pupy." When he founded Mercedes Pedroso Fernández in 2001, Pupy had already earned a place Cuban musical history as pianist, arranger and composer of Los Van Van over 32 years. As a hunter of new ideas and a restless composer he continues to innovate and invigorate with his new band and newfound fame.

8 Day/ 7 Night Program Costs

Tour costs based on DOUBLE ROOM OCCUPANCY including all taxes (does not include air fares)

Hotel with breakfast, many lunches and dinners, all ground services and itinerary activities unless noted as "optional," Havana airport transfers for group Air Canada flights on Day 1 and Day 8:

• $1,799 CAD for residents of Canada and other countries
• $1,799 USD for residents of the USA, including detailed

Support for entering and exiting Cuba without complications
Additional charge for a single room for duration of trip:

• $210 CAD for residents of Canada and other countries
• $210 USD for residents of the USA

Register today to ensure your participation.
A deposit of $300.00 is required to secure your place.
1-877-687-3817 toll free to book or for more information visit www.cubadance.ca

Included in Costs

• Seven nights at Havana's Hotel Saint Johns with breakfast included
• Fees for dance workshops (ten hours), five evening band performances, and opening gala dinner and ceremonies
• Luxury air conditioned coach transportation and professional driver
• All activities, speakers, meetings and meals as described in itinerary except those noted as "optional" or "not included in cost"
• An expert Cuban English speaking guide and translator throughout the program, together with ongoing support from Cuba Education Tours staff in Cuba and Canada
• Group transfers to and from Havana's José Martí International Airport for Air Canada flights when arriving on Day 1 and departing on Day 8

Not Included

• International airfare. Call us for special rates at 1-877-687-3817 toll free.
• Activities listed as "optional" or "not included in cost" in itinerary
• Gratuities for Cuban tour guide, bus driver, chambermaids, restaurant staff, porters, etc
• Cuban airport departure tax of $25.00 CUC (about $28.00 USD or CAD)
• Meals other than breakfasts unless noted in itinerary as included
• Optional travel interruption and health insurance

We’re Here For You

Questions about the program?

Web cubadance.ca
call 1-877-687-3817
email info@cubadance.ca

When to Commit

This tour fills up fast, so we advise registering now.

TOUR INTINERARY

Day One – Hello Havana!
Arrive at Havana’s José Martí International Airport where you will meet your Cuba Education Tour guide and professional bus chauffeur who will take you to the historic Hotel Saint John cultural center of Havana City. Tonight you are free to settle in, rest up, dine out and explore.

Day Two – Pinar del Rio’s Dramatic Viñales Valley
Day excursion to Viñales Valley, containing the most spectacular scenery in Cuba. The valley is particularly famous for its great freestanding rock formations called mogotes. Visit the Cueva del Indio believed to have been used by the local Guanahatabey Amerindians as a burial site and as refuge from the Spaniards. Take a short boat ride on the subterranean river to see the wave marks on the cave walls that attest to the flooding that took place here millions of years ago (included). Visit to Mural de la Prehistoria a huge painting made in the side of a mogote.

Lunch at La Ermita (included). Free time in Viñales down town to explore at leisure the open-air craft market, the Parque Marti, the Church, and other interesting sites of this charming colonial town. Visit to the Viñales Botanical Garden. Evening venue: Welcome dinner and Top Cuban popular music Band and Rueda de Casino Show.

Day Three – Getting to Know the Caribbean’s Largest Capital
Morning dance lessons with certified professors and accompanying dancer partner.

Lunch at La Mina Restaurant where you can enjoy traditional Cuban dishes as well as Music Live!!(optional) Afternoon guided walking tour of Old Havana, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit to Square of Arms, surrounded by impressive buildings such as Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, the Palacio del Segundo Cabo, and the Museo de Artesania at Castillo de la Real Fuerza. Continue walking tour onto San Francisco Square, one of the oldest in the historical quarter. Visit to Plaza Vieja, the only civic square of colonial times. Visit to the Cathedral Square, the most beautiful and private 18th century colonial plaza of Cuba.

9:00 p.m. Night Concert by one of Cuba’s Top popular music band and Rueda de Casino Show.

Day Four – Havana tour, Fine Arts Education
Morning dance lessons with certified professors and accompanying dancer partner.

Panoramic motor coach tour of Modern Havana, visiting places like Square of Revolution, University of Havana, Seawall, Vedado neighbourhood, Miramar neighbourhood, National Hotel, Cemetery Colon, and many others.

Visit to the house of Jose Fuster, one of the most important painter and ceramist in Cuba today. Visit to his cultural project in Jaimanitas. Lunch hosted by artist (included). Followed by a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts' Cuban Collection where we see the evolution of Cuba's visual arts over the last 300 years. The collection accounts for the richness of our Spanish, French, Chinese, African cultural roots (included)

9:00 p.m. Night Concert by one of Cuba’s Top popular music band and Rueda de Casino Show.

Day Five – Partagas Cigar Factory
Morning dance lessons with certified professors and accompanying dancer partner.

Lunch at El Aljibe restaurant (optional). Afternoon visit to Partagas cigar factory (included)

9:00 p.m. Night Concert by one of Cuba’s Top popular music band and Rueda de Casino Show.

Day Six – Eastern Beaches of Havana
Morning dance lessons with certified professors and accompanying dancer partner.

Lunch on your own. Afternoon enjoy the eastern beach of Havana City

9:00 p.m. Night Concert by one of Cuba’s Top popular music band and Rueda de Casino Show.

Day Seven – Cayo Levisa
Morning dance lessons with certified professors and accompanying dancer partner.

Lunch at China Town (optional). Afternoon ferry boat ride across the Bay of Havana to Regla. This town has a long, rich and still active tradition on AfroCuban religions. Visit to Church of Regla dedicated to the black "Virgen de Regla as well as the Regla Municipality Museum to learn about the history of Regla and AfroCuban origin religions.

Visit the home and studio of famous Cuban painter Canet.

9:00 p.m. Night Concert by one of Cuba’s Top popular music band and Rueda de Casino Show.

Day Eight – Goodbye Cuba!
Check out of hotel and travel to Havana City International Airport.