From Howie Kaufman:

Hello Afro-Cuban Enthusiasts,
I am pleased to announce that the "Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance & Drum" 2009
website has been updated recently.
Please visit http://www.humboldt.edu/afrocuban for the latest details. Please
forward this to any friends you think would be interested.
Highlights this year include:
1) An extra drum instructional strand during the afternoon dance class with
John Santos and Jesus Diaz. John will be giving three lectures examining the
tumbadora's path and evolution, including listening examples of rare recordings
and conceptual, and technical aspects of the instrument and its related rhythms.
Jesus Diaz will instruct a hands-on rhythm section ensemble class for timbales,
drum set, congas, and other percussion instruments used in modern Cuban music.
Both classes will be open to all levels.
2) Roman Diaz, drummer for Yoruba Andabo, Raices Profundas, and Pancho
Quinto, will be joining us for the first time this year. I have scheduled Roman
to teach advanced classes on Abacua, Conga de Comparsa, and Rumba (Yoruba Andabo
style) and Batá.
3) Sandy Pérez (Grupo Afro-Cuba) and Toto Beriel (Los Muñequitos) will bring
the Matanzas drumming and singing styles to the forefront. Sandy will teach
advanced classes on Bata Rumba and Olokun drumming. Toto will teach classes on
Rumba and Bembe.
4) The legendary Francisco Aguabella, one of the last remaining drummers from
his generation, will again inspire all of us with his power and strength on the
drum. He will be teaching Intermediate and Advanced Batá, and Comparsa,
5) The legendary Lazaro Galarraga will once again lead our song classes and
also teach some advanced Batá classes.
6) Reynaldo Gonzalez (Grupo Afro-Cuba) and Freila Merencio (Raices Profundas,
Yoruba Andabo) will be teaching dance twice per day and leading students in a
performance of Comparsa for the final show. Rey's energy keeps the evening
parties going with his singing and dancing. Freila and Rey will again co-teach a
rumba dance class on the first weekend and Freila will teach popular dance on a
couple of evenings.
7) Michael Spiro will breakdown the guaguanco with exercises and lessons on
the unique phrasing and style of playing Cuba's most popular rhythm.
8) We have also added a beginning dance class, which will breakdown the
primary movements for the different Orishas. This will be a great class for
those of us who do not Orisha dance regularly, or for those dancers who want a
foundation class to build from.
I could go on, but I encourage you to check out the website. I must mention that
our evening Rumba parties have become legendary. With the 2009 All-Star Faculty
listed above, I know that this summer will be nothing short of amazing.
Thanks for your attention! Hope to see you this summer!
Howie Kaufman
Founder and Coordinator of the
Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance and Drum Program
Humboldt State University