L'Ame de Cuba Festival (The Soul of Cuba)
Vincennes, France

3-11 May 2003
The 4th Year of this festival of Cuban Culture

Guillermo Davis will be presenting his new choreography:
"El Negrito de la Virgen - Santa Parrander y puta" performing with Galia Delgado. The piece is a contemporary take on a Legend of Ochun, the Goddess of love and sensuality.

L'Ame de Cuba Festival is organised by 'Comme Il Vous Plaira'

see the festival website for full programme of events http://amedecuba.free.fr/
or contact: comilvousplaira@wanadoo.fr

New Year 2003 class schedule running now

Includes a new Salsa and Cuban dance class in central London on Monday evenings at Waterloo Action Centre plus continuing Cuban Rumba (Tues eves) and Afro-Cuban Dance (Thurs eves) both part of his continuing residency at City University in collaboration with F-IRE Rhythmic Arts collective see classes & events for all details. Tues Afro-Cuban descarga late eves 9.15-11 continues at Als Bar Exmouth Market with F-IRE musicans, Rumba and Yoruba Bata.

Spirit of Cuba

Guillermo has been recommending the Video "Spirit of Cuba" to his students of Afro-Cuban dance. About Vocal Boabab with Yoruba and Rumba dance and music seqeunces see www.salsatap.com for video clips or to buy a copy.

Dec 2002 & early Jan 2002

Guillermo saw the New Year in with a dance course in Chateau in France with Comme Il Vous Plaira with Cuban Dance and Tango classes and performances contact comilvousplaira@wanadoo.fr to find out about Cuban dance activites in France. He also ran a Cuban dance workshop in Paris in November.

The Latin American School

gave two Christmas performances of their dance and music, prepared with Guillermo and the other arts teachers at the School during the Autumn term.

Autumn 2002
Guillermo started a residency at City University for the Autumn Term in collboration with F-IRE Rhythmic Arts collective running evening classes in Cuban Rumba and Afro-Cuban Dance. And on Tuesday evenings the class is followed by an Afro-Cuban descarga late eves 9.15-11 at Als Bar Exmouth Market with F-IRE musicans, playing Rumba and Yoruba Bata.

Dances of the World Festival - at Cecil Sharpe House

A weekend festival at the UK's centre for Folkloric Dance and Music, representing countries from all over the world. CuDance 10 the Cuban Dance group of semi-professional dancers gave a great performance of choreographies by Cubans: Rodolfo Fournier and Guillermo Davis 'el Iyawo' they have been working with Guillermo for some time now. The Finale of the weekend was a Conga with about 100 participants led by Guillermo with Conga music by Rhythms of the City.

Summer 2002

The Cuban Carnival Comparsa

was launched at the Latin American Festival with Guillermo's group of dancers with conga music by "Rhythms of the City" and costumes props and carnival actors from the excellent Beauchamp and Rubio of Thames Festival fame. We ran dance and music rehearsal with everyone during the 6 weeks or so before. This group of carnival dancers is open to all so contact Guillermo at info@eliyawo.co.uk if you want to be in next year's procession. And for more info about London's great Latin American Festival (sure to happen next year) see www.carnavaldelpueblo.co.uk. Thanks to Southwarks Urban Development Fund for their support to The Cuban Carnival Project.

the Latin American School

Guillermo has been teaching the children of the Latin American School, in Clapham since summer 2002 they performed at Carnaval del Pueblo. They performed Campesino Dances, Conga dance and Latin American music at the festival wearing Campesino costumes made by the wonderful Melba and designed by Guillermo.

Bami-Jo with Badejo Arts at Sadlers Wells

Guillermo taught Yoruba Dances of the Orishas with Silvina Fabert and Peter Badejo in this excellent course, with dance and music artists from Nigeria and Cuba working in the Yoruba tradition. See www.badejoarts.co.uk for next year.

Respect Festival - Summer 2002

Galia Delgado and Guillermo Davis gave a performance of Yoruba Dances of the Orishas on the Dance stage accompanied by Barak Schmool and his group of Bata musicians. In the Cuba Solidarity tent, Galia and Guillermo also performed Cha cha cha and popular dances and gave a public Conga workshop

Stoke Newington Festival early Summer 2002

Guillermo led a Conga procession for the Gala opening of the festival with Rhythms of the City musicians playing conga.

Autumn Classes UPDATE

Click this link:- Classes & Events for details on eaqch of these regular classes

All details confirmed now

Mondays SALSA
in the east end 7-9pm starts Sept 9th

Tuesdays AFRO-CUBAN RUMBA
7-9pm starts 10th Sept at City University, on St John Street nr the Angel (nr corner of Spencer St, under the big clock), in the BASEMENT ask for the Performance Area (nrst tubes Angel and Farringdon, buses 153,38,19,4,56) (see class and events link for more)

Thursdays YORUBA SACRED DANCES of the ORISHAS
7-9pm starts 12th Sept at City University (see above, same plavce) nr the Angel

And look out for Rumba cafe/pub evenings to be announced soon (hopefully).

Autumn Classes

See Classes & Events for details of all these...

Details of regular classes details are being posted on the website at above link and will also be mailed out as soon as they become available.
What we can tell you now...

Mondays SALSA
in the east end starts Sept 9th 7-9pm (see classes & events) all details confirmed
Tuesdays RUMBA
we have to find another venue and hope to announce a venue and start datre before too long
Thursdays YORUBA DANCES of the ORISHAS
will be at City University (performance area) nr the Angel START DATE to be announced

And the Autumn is beginning with two special Cuban dance workshops on 1st and 8th Sept, Sunday afternoons led by Guillermo and Jessica Britto at the Menier Gallery nr the Tate Modern, to accompany the photographic exhibition "Coaches and Black Water" now on with images of dance.

Summertime

Lots of activity going on over the Summer with festivals, workshops and rehearsals for Carnaval del Pueblo. Guillermo started the festival season with a Conga opening for STOKE NEWINGTON FESTIVAL with with the Conga Comparsa Musicans and Paseo Malanga. Guillermo ran dance workshops at DRUM CAMP, the annual persussion Festival, where the Rumba workshop went down particularly well. Galia Delgado and Guillermo performed together on the Dance Culture stage at the RESPECT Festival and with Cuba Solidarity where they also led a wild Conga class. CARDIFF Festival performing Salsa with Galia Delgado and another couple. Guillermo ran a special workshop at WOMAD (the World Music Arts and Dance Festival) in Yoruba Dances of the Orishas with live Bata percussion and song from Jose Ferrera, musican from Danza Libre, who's here for the Summer and Barak Schmool's group of Bata musicans. Guillermo and Jose were also invited to lead WOMAD's children's procession in an impromptu Conga.

He is preparing the Colombian dance group 'Nueva Generacion', to take part in the Cuban Carnaval Comparsa for Carnval del Pueblo's opening and is preparing a group of his adult students for this Comparsa too. He is also running rehearsals with the children of the Latin American School for their performances at Carnaval del Pueblo.

For more info on the festival see: www.CarnavaldelPueblo.co.uk

(procession in the afternoon Aug 18th Burgess Park, Camberwell, London SE5)

Many thanks to South East London Community Foundation and the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit for their support for the Cuban Carnival Comparsa at Carnival del Pueblo.

Autumn Events and Classes

The Autumn begins with two special Cuban dance workshops on 1st and 8th Sept, Sunday afternoons led by Guillermo and Jessica Britto with Jose Ferrera at the Menier Gallery nr the Tate Modern, to accompany the photgraphic exhibition "Coaches and Black Water".

The new class programme for the Autumn will go up up on the website soon. Guillermo is planning a regular weekday Afro-Cuban Rumba evening class.

Cuban Carnaval Comparsa

Guillermo Davis 'el Iyawo' is working with the excellent artists Julieta Rubio and Charles Beauchamp (of the Thames River Festival) and excellent musician Barak Schmool preparing a Comparsa for Carnaval del Pueblo on Aug 18th in Burgess Park nr Elephant and Castle. Barak is working with the musicians, Guillermo is working with groups of dancers and Julieta and Charles are providing costumes.

Children's Dance class at the Latin American School

Guilllermo has been working with groups of children at the Latin American School preparing choreographies with them in Cuban and Colombian dance. The children will be performing these dances at festivals around London over the Summer, including Carnaval del Pueblo. He plans to continue working with the children at the Latin American School in regular dance classes after the Carnival from September.

The Latin American School runs on Saturday. The dance classes are taught in Spanish and are primarily for children of Latin American families living here. If you would like your children to take part talk to Nuala Morales Baylie on 020 7582 1917.

Professional Class

We're looking into the possibility of Guillermo running a class for professional dancers in Caribbean dance. Likely to be a weekday daytime in Bethnal Green area. If you would be interested in this type of class please get in touch.

Lady Salsa Taiwan

Guillermo Davis and Galia Delgado toured Taiwan recently performing in a version of the Lady Salsa show. Homero Gonzalez took part in the show plus other dancers and musians.

Stoke Newington Festival procession

The Stoke Newington Festival this year will be opened by a conga procession led by the Cuban Carnival Comparsa musicians and Guillermo Davis with his students and Cuban dance fans. Before the procession there will be a big open CONGA class for everybody (FREE!). And if you are interested in joining Guillermo for 'Carnaval del Pueblo' here's a chance for a taster with the Cuban Comparsa Musicians. From 7pm Friday June 14th the Assembly Rooms, Stoke Newington Church Street. See classes and events link below.

Choreography for Procession - workshops

Guillermo will be running a special series of workshops with Paddington Arts in West London on "Choreography for Procession" working with Jamaican choreographer Jackie Guy. Paddington Arts is near Notting Hill and has a lot of invovement with Carnival every year. These workshops are open to everyone interested in Carnival dance and procession and are at Paddington Arts consecutive Sats starting June 15th. See classes and events link below. See 'CLASS DATES' link for more info.

Carnaval del Pueblo

This year's Latin American Festival week long festival will be opened for the first time by a Carnival procession on 18th August 2002 called CARNAVAL DEL PEUBLO. It will consist of about 25 Comparsas (carnival groups) mainly from the Latin American Communities around London. Guillermo Davis is involved in planning Carnaval del Pueblo with the Latin American School, Noticias Latin-Amercanas, others from the Latin American Community and Southwark events team. The Festival and Carnival are planning website which we will link to from www.eliyawo.co.uk


The Cuban Carnival Comparsa

Fans of Cuban Dance and music are coming together with Guillermo Davis, Barak Smoll and others to form a Cuban Carnival Comparsa for London. The Comparsa will have its first outing at Carnaval del Pueblo on 18th August. Some excellent musicians with plenty of experience of Cuban music and carnival, Barak and Dave Willets are working with students and many amatuer musicians on the music side of the Cuban Carnival Comparsa. Guillermo is working with his dance students and other dancers (professionals and amateurs) on the Carnival Dances and Costumes. There are workshops being planned especially to prepare for this for children and adults so email if you want to be part of this. Dates will be posted on the Events Diary soon. Children's workshops will be with the Latin American School in Southwark. The Cuban Carnival Comparsa is open to everyone for all ages and abilites.

Jose Ferrera is coming to UK July/August 2002

Jose Ferrera, the excellent musician from Compania Danza Libre is coming to the UK this Summer in July & Aug 2002.He is a master of all forms of Cuban and Haitian percussion. While he is here he will be performing and running workshops in Cuban percussion at a number of events including DRUM CAMP, WOMAD Reading and some events with Guillermos Davis 'el Iyawo'. Jose will be based near Norwich. He is available for bookings for Cuban percussion teaching and performance. For enquiries and bookings contact Gary Newland 01603 872 402

Drum Camp 2002 11th-14th JULY

A Celebration of Percussion from around the World

An event for all fans of rhythm. Guillermo Davis 'el Iyawo' is running workshops on Fri/Sat/Sun at Drum Camp in Salsa, Rumba and Afro-Cuban Dance with Jose Ferrera, percussionist from Danza Libre. We understand Jose Ferrera will also be teaching Cuban percussion. See www.drumcamp.co.uk for more info.

Salsa Passion

Guillermo Davis 'el Iyawo' performed and taught with Yessica Britto at Salsa Festival at Pontins "Salsa Passion" in Somerset. Yessica is recently from Compania Danza Libre, Cuba.

See the Classes & Events link for details on events and classes mentioned here.