Sample Trip Schedule- Cuban Dance & Music Research Trips

This is subject to change. Every trip is structured to serve the specific research goals of the participants, and to include the special events occurring in Cuba at the time of the trip.

Day 1 (Saturday)

Arrive at Jose Marti International Airport and go to Copacabana Hotel for check-in
11:00 am - Trip briefing and lunch at hotel
1:00 pm - Take a city tour, ending at the home of the Conjunto Folclorico Nacional de Cuba for an afternoon show of music and dance, followed by a Cuban-style Rumba.
6:30 pm - Return to hotel to meet our team of Instructors, discuss research goals, and take first dance workshop.
8:00 pm - Welcome Dinner with Cuban guests

**CULTURAL OPTIONS: Attend Live Cabaret Show followed by Dance Party

Day 2 (Sunday)

7:30-9:30 am - Buffet breakfast at the hotel
9:30 am - Intensive Afro-Cuban Workshop with our instructor team:
- Focus: Orishas (Yoruba tradition)
- Participants will:
  - learn together about the history and characteristics of each orisha
  - divide into separate groups by profession or research needs, for percussion, dances and songs
12:30 pm - LUNCH OPTIONS*
2:00 pm - Site visit, performances and cultural exchange at the nationally renowned ArteCorte Community Project, where local disadvantaged youth receive specialized training in visual & performing arts, and produce amazing work that has revitalized a neighborhood and improved the health of the community.
6:30 pm - Buffet dinner at the hotel

**CULTURAL OPTIONS: Attend Havana's most popular Open-Air Salsa Social, run by the founders of the Rueda de Casino. Includes live band & dance performances.

Day 3 (Monday)

7:30-9:30 am - Buffet breakfast at the hotel
9:00 am - For Dancers:
- Intensive contemporary dance workshop & exchange with Yoldance Company at the National Theater
9:30 am - For Musicians, Educators & Health Professionals:
- Site visit to the Superior Arts Institute, the national university for top level Arts students aimimg to become artists, performers or professors.
- Encounters with professors and students.
12:30 pm - LUNCH OPTIONS*
2:00 pm - Visit the home of the Danza Chevere Ensemble for an interactive presentation entitled "Contradanza to Casino and Everything in Between" --the evolution of Cuban social dancing. After the workshop and presentation we will have a cultural exchange with the dancers, musicians, professors, teachers, health professionals and others who work together in this ensemble.
7:00 pm - Buffet dinner at the hotel

**CULTURAL OPTIONS: Dance at a top Havana nightclub

Day 4 (Tuesday)

7:30-9:00 am - Buffet Breakfast at the Hotel
9:30 am - Visit to the home of Raices Profundas Company, led by master instructor Juan de Dios. There will be a presentation of Afro-Cuban dance with live music, followed by a workshop with the artists.
12:30 pm - LUNCH OPTIONS*
1:30 pm - Intensive workshops or site visits in research groups
- For Dancers: Cuban Contemporary Body Movement Workshop with nationally recognized choreographer Waldemar Guijarro Bedoya
- For Musicians: Site visits to professional musicians in their workplaces. Opportunities to see performances, sit-in, talk, and more
- For Mental/Public Health & Education: Visits to local health clinic & school
- Other visits would be scheduled for other professions if needed

**CULTURAL OPTIONS: Attend a Attend a Los Van Van concert, dance to their music, and meet some of the musicians

Day 5 (Wednesday)

7:30-9:30 am - Buffet breakfast at the hotel
9:30 am - Visit the home of the Colmenita Ensemble. Separate into smaller groups for Music, Dance and Physical Theater workshops with Instructors.
12:30 pm - Luncheon & encounter with our host agency Amistur, at the Casa de la Amistad
2:00 pm - Intensive workshops or site visits in research groups
- For Dancers, Mental/Public Health & Education: Site visit to PsicoBallet
- For Musicians: Intensive workshop in the Colmenita sound studio
5:30 pm - Attend Colmenita performance & encounter
7:30 pm - Buffet dinner at the hotel

**CULTURAL OPTIONS: Attend Danza Chevere's weekly social, including live cultural performances

Day 6 (Thursday)

7:30-9:00 am - Buffet breakfast at the hotel
9:30 am - Return to Raices Profundas for a full morning of workshops in Afro-Cuban dance & drumming. You will reinforce your learning from Tuesday, as well as adding new Orishas.
12:30 pm - LUNCH OPTIONS*
2:00 pm - City tour of Old Havana, including Casa Yoruba, an interactive museum of the Orishas and Yoruba traditions.
PLEASE NOTE: Participants who want personalized instruction from members of Raices Profundas will be able to schedule time between 12:30 and 5:00, as it is in Old Havana, and easy to meet back up with the group. There will be an additional cost.
6:30 pm - Buffet dinner at the hotel
8:30 pm - Good-bye Party at the hotel with Cuban guests

Day 7 (Friday)

7:30-9:00 am - Buffet breakfast at the hotel
9:00 am - Choice of individual research opportunities
- Return to company we visited
- Personalized instruction
- Trip to East Havana beach with instructors from our Team
- Other individual research
LUNCH OPTIONS*
Individual research opportunities continued
7:30 pm - Buffet dinner at the hotel

**CULTURAL OPTIONS: Dancing & Performances at Palacio de la Rumba

Day 8 (Saturday)

7:30-9:30 - Buffet breakfast at the hotel
Group briefing on re-entry to US, and debrief of trip
Go to Jose Marti International Airport

NOTES:

*LUNCH OPTIONS: As there is no lunch provided on most days, we will offer suggestions to people who are hungry, based on where we are, and what they want to eat.

**CULTURAL OPTIONS: Our Our research program doesn't include Havana Nightlife, but anyone who wants to come out with us can, or you are free to explore on your own! We will suggest several options each night that people can try, with a range of costs. There is also an excellent band each night at the hotel bar--free for guests!