Deeply Rooted: Dance Workshops with Juan de Dios + Raices Profundas

Words by Petra Valoma—

Afro-Cuban dance master-of-masters Juan de Dios is highly revered as a performer, teacher and historian, a major influence in conserving, documenting and maintaining Cuban cultural traditions. In 1962, he became one of the founding members of the Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba, where he was a principal dancer, percussionist, singer and professor. In 1975, he founded Raices Profundas (“Deep Roots”), creating and performing choreography that embodies the roots of Afro-Cuban dance. Today the company is widely regarded as one of the world’s most authentic performing ensembles in the Yoruba traditions. Their work retraces history by mixing old-style Rumba, traditional folkloric dances and contemporary Salsa.

This Saturday, May 12,  de Dios and members of Raices Profundas are culminating a US tour in Brooklyn, teaching three public workshops, focusing on Vudun, Arara and Rumba. Starting at 9pm, Raices Profundas will host “The Roots of Salsa” dance party with DJs and live performances. All of this is going down at Cumbe Center for African and Diasporic Dance, the new home for African and diaspora dance in Brooklyn, bringing together classes and cultural education for dances from Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean under one roof. A limited number of tickets will be sold for both events online and at the door.