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. .