Reynaldo Gonzalez’s Matanzas-Style Afro-Cuban Dance Workshop
This week I caught up with Reynaldo Gonzalez in his Matanzas-Style Afro-Cuban dance Workshop. Reynaldo is here visiting from Boston and taught a 2 hour class this Wednesday and will be teaching an entirely different class this Friday August 31st.
About the Class
This Wednesday’s class was a high energy lesson that consisted of Arara: Ebioso (Shango), Azowuano (Babalu Aye) & Yoruba Bembe Rythms: Oya and Oggun. The class was accompanied by live drummers and singers. The instructor Reynaldo also shared some of his singing skills with us as he led the class. The workshop participants echoed in by chanting the choruses of many traditional songs that were played and sung throughout the workshop. This was not only a highly energetic class but it was also a very informative one where the instructor provided the history and meaning behind the dances in addition to breaking down the dance steps. Reynaldo’s approach of lecturing while teaching the dance workshop helped facilitate the dance lesson by bringing more awareness to the participants body movement, thereby enhancing the precision of every dance step.
If you missed this Wednesday’s class, you’re in luck! Reynaldo will be teaching one more workshop this Friday July 31st which will consist of Bantu: Palo and Makuta & Rumba: Yambu and Guaguanco in Matanzas-style from 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM. The cost of this 2 hour workshop is only $20. Be sure to check it out!
Workshop Info: Friday July 31st 6:00-8:00pm at Lucid Body, 230 Lexington Ave ( Bet. E33rd St & E34th St.) 2nd Floor. Bantu: Palo and Makuta & Rumba: Yambu and Guaguanco in Matanzas-style! For more information about the workshop, Click Here!
About the Instructor
Reynaldo Gonzalez is originally from Matanzas, Cuba and is an experienced instructor of folkloric dance, percussion and song. He danced and sang with the the Cuban folkloric group, Afro-Cuba de Matanzas for 14yrs. Reynaldo has been based in Boston since 2000 and has continued to perform and teach nationally and internationally. He also participated in cultural exchanges in Africa: the Republic of Congo in 1986 and Angola in1987. source
Written By: 
Marie is the founder of Sabor Del Caribe Blog. Her mission is to share and educate others about the fullness of the Caribbean’s culture through music, dance, food, fashion etc. She also aims to keep her readers up to date on current events ranging from: political/economic issues currently faced in the Caribbean as well as social events and parties that are taking place in the local community & worldwide.
#afrocuban #matanzas #reynaldogonzalez #arra #yoruba #bantu #Makuta #Rumba #palo
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