Long before Casino, Timba, or Son emerged, there were the dances from which they all originated.
The Afro-Cuban folklore traditions are the root of Cuban dance — and are still alive today. They arose from the cultures of the Africans brought to Cuba, who preserved their spirituality, rituals, and community through dance. The diversity of these traditions is enormous: Yoruba and the dances of the Orishas — deities like Elegguá, Changó, or Yemayá — each with its own language of movement,
its own rhythm, its own energy. Palo, rooted in the Congo tradition. Yuka and Makuta, among the oldest Cuban dance forms. Franco-Haitian, reflecting Haitian influences in eastern Cuba — to name just a few. Learning these dances doesn’t just mean learning new movements — it means understanding their origin. Those who know the roots dance with more depth. In everything.