SANTIAGO DE CUBA  
Training course
14 to 28 December, 2006 
(dates to be confirmed at  the  announcementof the final dates of flights  by the companies )

Santiago of Cuba is the capital of  "The Oriente" homeland  of the "SON" 
and many of the popular salsa styles.
The town of 150 000 inhabitants has kept a very pleasant pace of life and has an intense artistic life of mix French - Haitian ,Spanish and Afro influences etc, and  the center town where you can get around walking easily, 
gathers a great number of cultural   sites of animations such as : La  Casa de la Trova, Museo de Carnaval,
Casa de Artex, Casa de los Avuelos, and so on.These are as many places where from midday on  
you can listen or dance at the rhythms of: Son,  Bolero,  Cha Cha,  Timba,  Changui, Rumbas etc.

We take care of:

1° Organization of the courses and  activities, lodging with local (great) peoples  in very beautiful colonial style  houses 
in a half pension formula: breakfast on the spot, evening meal with the other trainees,
2° Reservations and contact with the agency for the purchase of your plane tickets. Reception at the airport, etc.

The prices which you find at the bottom of the page correspond to a departure from Switzerland or France.
Nevertheless it give you a basic idea.

VISION of the Training Course

The best way of learning or of improving your knowledge of the Afro Cuban tradition and salsa is to immerse in the context
 and to share the daily life of the Cuban artists, dancers and musicians. 
We will share with you our knowledge of the country, its folklore and its language. 
We wish to make you share our unconditional sympathy not to say love of this culture. 
The connections made while recording and working on the spot enable us to guarantee a teaching 
with professionals of very high level.

************          THE COURSES       ************

·             1° PERCUSSIONS (A) Folklore. Discovery of the various voices and drums weaving the polirythmy (ex, for Rumba: Very, Tumba, Quinto, Clave, Kata, Cajon, etc.) and of their respective work in the various folk rhythms: Guaguanco, Yambu and Columbia, Bembe, As well as : Arara, Palo, Congo, Guagua, Tumba Francesa,etc . . . 
Bells paterns, Kata, Bombos, Cajones, etc. . .introduction to Batas (sacred drums of Santeria, the Yoruba cult )

·              2° PERCUSSIONS (B) Salsa or popular music Son, Montuno, Cha cha, Guajira,Mambo, Songo, Timba, Rammer, Merengue, Bolero etc. Courses on the instruments and playing techniques such as they are used in the dance music (or Salsa). .interaction with the rest of the rhythm section, discovery of the patterns corresponding to the various parts of a salsa arrangement Practice of the Congas, Timbales, Bongos, Congas, Bells, Guiro, Maracas, Clave.. . Initiation for the beginners or improvement, techniques of solo, “Breaks” and “Cierres” for the advanced ones, the courses will be adjusted on your level. 

·              1° Popular DANCE, Salsa. Introduction to the Cuban style salsa. . (Style Casino). . . 
Locate rhythm and clave for the beginners. . 
Work rhythmic and of movement in synchronisation with the instruments, piano, low. . 
Covered rates/rhythms: Cha cha, Its, Mambo, Merengue, Cumbia, Bolero.. . etc For the Advanced ones, 
improvement of the passes in couples, Rueda, movements of Rumba

·              2°DANCE Folklore Afro Cubain. Movement of Rumba, differentiation of the figures and attitudes and movement of Macho and Hembra. . The various steps and figures of the dances of Orishas, Steps, attitude in relation to the Santos, Yoruba deities, (which incarnate the various characters and types of personalities), relation with Coros and the music.

·              INSTRUMENTS AND VOICE. 
Piano, Low, Trumpet, Saxes, Guitars or “Tres”, Flutes Trombone and Voice. For the beginners, how to place themselves and play on Clave
Exploration of Tumbaos, Montunos, Guajeo y Monas, (riffs) phrasing and development of solo (advanced). 
Comprehension of the various parts in arrangements and structures. Techniques of accompaniment and improvisation on titles of the popular repertory (standard salsa)

·          PROFESSORS. All the teachers are professionals with a great practice of teaching.
We are likely to practise with a Conjunto (Folkloyuma, Kasumbi, El Kokoye) and to benefit from the presence and the availability of a complete folkloric group: Percussionists, Singers and Dancers. We will be able thus to plunge us in the context and to impregnate at the the source.

·             THE COURSES. 
The Dance courses will be done in group and couple with a teacher per person, then punctually within the folk dances context, in the presence of the percussion and choruses. 
The courses of percussion will be done on the one hand in group, with punctually the addition of the other musicians (Combo workshop)
                              

Program ofthe TRAINING COURSE 


1st day 12 Dec. flight from Basel (Paris) arrival in the evening approx. 21h in Santiago and transfer to your place of pension (Cuban family). . . 
2nd day 9h breakfast 10 H presentation of the professors and places of course. 11 h. courses afternoon free, relaxing or discovering places of activities and concerts, 19 H meal together 21 H reception, animation with the group "Obini Irawo" 
3rd day and following: courses 9h to 13h -13h 30, afternoon free, visit of Santiago, ballads, swimming pools etc Evening out to some of the many music places of Santiago : La Casa de la Trova, Museo de Carnaval, Casa de Artex, Casa de los Avuelos, and so on.
Sunday Free beaches, excursions, etc. 24 Dec around 9h preparation and repetition of the material for the audition, 21h evening of good-bye, Despedida, audition - jam - show of the trainees. 
Dec. 26 departure, no courses in the morning, getting ready for the flight , 12h last nice meal together, transfer to the airport in the afternoon. 

SERVICES as offered : organization of the courses and plane tickets activities, lodging in double bedrooms (individual room only according to availability) (please mention if you are in couple) with Cubans  in very beautiful   colonial style houses. half pension, breakfast on the spot, evening meal together with the group of trainees.. 

The price of Training course is 1170 euros  (15 days)

Taxes immigration/airport not included

Fligts around Euro 900-) depuis :

INSCRIPTION

Your inscription will be confirmed by the down payment of 550-euro 
A receipt for each payment, as well as a contract defining the general conditions will be drawn up between the operator and each participant. 
Minimum 15 people.