Join us for the Boulder Afro-Latin Dance Weekender on April 5th & 6th hosted at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art
A weekend full of dance training (by international Latinx guest dance artists), social dancing, live music, & performances.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with local and visiting dancers. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just starting, there’s something for everyone at this event celebrating Latinidad.
Join the Performance Challenge - Limited Spots
The Performance Challenge includes learning choreography from all Guest Artists for a Performance with Live Music on Sunday April 6th!
We will meet four Sundays (March 9th, 16th, 23rd, & 30th 12-1:30pm @BMoCA) prior to the Weekender (April 5th & 6th) to start learning each artist’s choreography. Local dance artist Jesús Muñoz will lead these rehearsals.
We will train with each Guest Artist during the Weekender to review their choreography and get ready for the Performance Challenge with Live Music on the April 6th Sunday Night Social.
Weekender Schedule
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Saturday
11am-12pm
Johan & Alyssa - Boogaloo
12pm-1pm
Lawrence & Jewel - Salsa Partner-Work On2
1pm-1:30pm
Break/Lunch
1:30pm-2:30pm
Chiara Tofani - Salsa Fusion On2
2:30pm -3:30pm
Marisol Blanco - Afro-Cuban/Eleggua/Bata (Live Percussion)
9pm-1am
Night Social | DJ Exquisite | Artist Performances
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Sunday
11am-12pm
Johan & Alyssa - Pachanga
12pm-1pm
Lawrence & Jewel - Mambo Shines On2
1pm-1:30pm
Break/Lunch
1:30pm-2:30pm
Chiara Tofani - Salsa Fusion On2
2:30pm -3:30pm
Marisol Blanco - Afro-Cuban/Eleggua/Guiro (Live Percussion)
9pm-1am
Night Social | Live Band | Boulder Afro Latin Dance Performance | Performance Challenge (Live Music Performances)
Meet the Guest Artists
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Marisol Blanco, Master Teacher and graduate of Cuba’s prestigious Superior Institute of Arts (ISA) bachelor dance teacher and The National School of Arts (ENA) professional dancer, teaches Afro-Cuban Folkloric and Popular Dance, as well as, other forms of traditional dance from around the world. Marisol has been a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer for more than 25 years. She has earned popularity for her Rumba classes and special Afro-Cuban learning program, “HPS”. Marisol emphasizes the connection between steps, story, song, percussion, body expression, philosophy, psychology, and technical knowledge in her classes. She creates an environment of support, motivation, creativity, and curiosity, while encouraging her students to reach their full potential in her classroom. She is the owner and director of Sikan Afrocuban Dance Project. Marisol is also a former member of the first female drumming and dance group, Obini-Bata with respective recognition and evaluation from the Cuban National Center of Popular Music as percussion specialist/vocalist master level. She professionally danced in The Cuban National Folkloric Company. She has also successfully completed certificates of Art Performance Management, Ethnology, Social Anthropology and Ethno Choreography. She has traveled to several countries and remains active in both her dance and teaching careers successfully.
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Born in Anzio, Chiara Tofani is a professional Italian salsa dancer, known in the world for her unique style. Chiara started dancing at the age of 6, learning classical and modern dance and at the age of 13, she started dancing Afro Cuban Folklore and Cuban salsa..
Over the years, Chiara has continued to deepen her studies with masters such as Kirenia Cantin, Maykel Fonts, Fernando Sosa, Teresa Castaneda, Vanessa Lacedonia, Tania Cannarsa, Adolfo Indacochea, Leonardo Martinez Moya, Sergio Larrinaga, and Franklin Diaz.
After spending some time in Milan and New York city, dancing and and training at some of the top salsa companies in the world, Chiara officially launched her career as a professional dancers in 2017. She developed her personal style known as a mix of mambo, Cuban dance, and a mixture of contemporary and modern influences.
In 2019, Chiara launched her first team which has now expanded to 60 members worldwide. Chiara continues to travel and teach around the world spreading her talent and love for dance.
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Johan and Alyssa live in Dalllas, Texas. They have established their salsa school Timba Tumbao in Dallas in 2011. They have trained with world known teachers such as Rodrigo Cortazar & Selene Tovar , Grisselle Ponce, Jayson Molina, Marisol Blanco and Ranses Shango from Cuba. They have kept the salsa scene of Dallas alive for the past 13 years. They currently train dancers for social dance, competition and performances. They train dancers from zero all the way to World Champions. They offer salsa classes on1, on2 , foundation of Afrocuban dance, Salsa Son and Rumba Fusion Boogaloo, Pachanga, Cha cha cha, Freestyle and Musicality Classes.
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Founder Victor Mestas is a pianist from Caracas, Venezuela. Endorsement artist for YAMAHA keyboards in Venezuela. Mestas has performed with renowned bands, including Guaco and Trabuco Venezolano, and he has also accompanied world renowned singers, including: Soledad Bravo, Cheo Feliciano, and Julio Iglesias. Since moving to Boulder, he’s been performing on the Brazilian-Latin Jazz scene. In 2016 he started to teach Latin Jazz Ensemble/Piano at Thompson Jazz Studies Program, CU Boulder.