About Us
Our mission is to share the incredible musical legacy of the African diaspora through dance, music and cultural expression. The roots of Afro-Cuban music influenced the popular rhythms of Mambo, Rumba, Merengue, Cha-Cha, Son, Samba and more. We offer dance and drum workshops, performances and lecture/demonstrations in the following Afrocuban forms: Lucumi (Orishas), Bantu/Congo, Arara, Carabali, Rumba (guanganco, columbia, yambu), Comparsa (Carnival Dance), and Haitiano (Gaga, Vodu).
While the musical legacy of Cuba is our primary focus, from time to time, we include information regarding other forms of World Music and dance.
We believe people are united through music and dance. Since this music comes from the people, it should be shared with the people. Accordingly, we encourage novice dancers and drummers to participate and learn with us. We are based in the Mid-Hudson Valley region of New York.
Since 1994, Shauna Reeder-Gonzalez, President of DanceAfoCuba, Inc., studied primarily with legendary master dancers Xiomara Rodriguez (a former member of Conjunto Folklorico Nacional who has been keeping Cuba folkloric traditions alive in the United States since her arrival in 1980) and Regina Iyaleio (a former prinicpal dancer Los Afortunados and Obini Ashe).
Shauna has also attended numerous artists-in-residency programs with Grupo Afrocuba de Matanzas, Munequitos de Matanzas, Ban Rra, Cutumba and Cuban master dancers residing in the United States, including Felix "Pupi" Insua, Reynaldo Gonzalez, Susana Arenas Pedroso and Teresita Dome Perez.
Ms. Reeder-Gonzalez is a former member of Obini Ashe and has performed at the New York Open Center, St. Mark's Church, 2006 Kids' Art Trail, Newburgh Free Public Library. In 2004, Shauna served as a panelist for the Arts in Orange Community Grants program. She has also taught Afro-Caribbean Dance at SUNY Orange and currently offers workshops in Orange County and the Hudson Valley area in New York.
In addition to sponsoring our own workshops and events, we endeavor to be a resource for enthusiasts of Afro-Cuban dance, drum and song. Please visit us frequently for postings regardings Afro-Cuban dance and drum events.
For information regarding upcoming workshops, performances and lectures, please e-mail us at
shauna@danceafrocuba.com
DanceAfroCuba
8 Coolidge Court
Middletown, New York 10940
845-343-6295