Hi,
I'm forwarding a message from the Director of the annual Afro-Cuban workshop
held in Arcata, California.


Hello Afro-Cuban Enthusiasts,

The Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance and Drum (ACDD) Workshops, July 25 – August
1, 2009 at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California is still accepting
registrations.
Here is the latest update.

Once again, members of the Afro-Cuban community from various parts of the
country are coming to be apart of this years' event. We have participants from
Germany, Panama, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin,
Arkansas, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Hawaii, and of course California.

Some highlights about this year are the coupling of Sandy Perez (Grupo
Afro-Cuba) and Toto Berriel (Los Munequitios), who were childhood friends, and
played together in "Los Yumurinos" when they were teenagers. Accompanying
dancer/singer Reynaldo Gonzalez (Grupo Afro-Cuba), these dance classes will be
extremely fun to observe and participate in. Toto was a big hit last year. He
brought great energy and enthusiasm to his classes and at the parties. A
wonderful singer and drummer.

Lazaro Galarraga will be bringing a new folkloric cd to camp and he will be
teaching many of the songs from that cd. So students will be able to leave with
a studio recording in one hand and song sheets with the words in the other. He
will also be teaching a number of bata classes for both intermediate and
advanced students. In these classes he does an excellent job displaying subtle
nuances in the enu hand.

We are pleased to be bringing Roman Díaz (Yoruba Andabo, Raices Profundas,
Pancho Quinto), to camp for the first time. Check out you tube for a number of
videos featuring Roman. We are excited to learn from him some funky rumba
grooves, abacua, and more. He will also be teaching intermediate and advanced
bata classes, and he will be lead accompanist for Freila Merencio's (Raices
Profundas, Yoruba Andabo) dance classes each day.

This year we have added an additional drum strand featuring lecture classes on
the history of the tumbadora by John Santos and popular grooves for drum set,
congas, and timbales by Jesus Diaz. Michael Spiro is also back teaching classes
on guaguanco and more.

Unfortunately, Francisco Aguabella is unavailable this year. We will miss him.

Last but not least, our nightly house parties/rumbas will once again bring
faculty and participants together, playing, singing and dancing into the night.
For a taste, go to these links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtLuIuDFtes&feature=PlayList&p=C2C9EA8ACAEF45AE&i\
ndex=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPJLRWMjlBI&feature=related

I hope to see you in Humboldt.

Howie Kaufman
Founder and Coordinator of the
Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance and Drum Program
Humboldt State University