ARTISTS
INSTRUCTORS, DJs, MUSIC
INSTRUCTORS
In spring 2023, we are inviting some of the best Cuban instructors to inspire dance enthusiasts from Vienna, Austria, and Europe, with their knowledge and skills, infect us with their fascinating energy and dance, communicate, discover and celebrate together with us in urban and modern Vienna.
ANDY GONZALO VARONA
CUBA / NORWAY
Born in Havana and trained at various Cuban dance institutions including the renowned Raices Profundas and Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba, Andy Gonzalo Varona is a highly energetic, powerful dancer who inspires with masterful rumba, afro and reggaeton technique. Andy’s classes – very popular at many international festivals – focus on precise body movement, musicality and the amazing dynamics of Cuban dance moves.
YULIET ESTRADA LINARES
CUBA / NORWAY
A staunch advocate of everything Cuban dance has to offer, Havana native Yuliet Estrada Linares honed her exquisite dance skills at the Conjunto Folklórico de la Universidad de la Habana and has been working internationally as dancer, instructor and choreographer for many years. In her classes, covering timba, reggaeton, son, rumba and afrocuban dances, Yuliet creatively combines rhythm, technique and joy of dancing with elegant yet powerful dance moves.
YELNAY HOPUY HERNANDEZ
CUBA / SPAIN
Yelnay Hopuy Hernandez is a professional teacher and choreographer from Cuba who honed her dance skills at Escuela vocacional de arte “Juan Pablo Duarte”. Currently based in Barcelona, Spain, Yelnay teaches Cuban salsa and Son, putting much focus on style and body movement as well as musicality in timba. In addition, Yelnay leads the dance formation “Narciso Medina” along with a Rueda de Casino project in Barcelona.
ERNESTO GARCIA
CUBA / SPAIN
Ernesto García is a Cuban dancer and instructor with amazing energy and rich knowledge in timba, son and afro moves. In his classes, Ernesto especially aims to sharpen dance technique and improve body movement and to help dancers develop a deeper understanding and feeling for musicality so they can create a connection between music, body and soul.
YUSIMI MOYA RODRIGUEZ
CUBA / AUSTRIA
With a background at Escuela Nacional de Arte (ENA) and the Conjunto Folklórico Nacional, Vienna-based Yusimi Moya Rodriguez from Havana is an extraordinary contemporary dancer and professional choreographer who has been spreading love for afrocuban dance and culture and inspiring the timberos of Vienna for a long time. Her classes combine attention to detail with incredible energy and power and will expertly challenge your mind and body.
OSMEL PENTON
CUBA / AUSTRIA
Osmel Penton, better known as Relámpago, is a professional dancer and choreographer from Cuba currently based in Vienna. He is teaching Afrocuban dances, Salsa Cubana and styling with cubaila viena as well as other dance projects across Europe. Trained not only in traditional Afrocuban performance but also in modern dance and musical theater, Osmel started his dance career in Cuba as First Soloist of the famous folkloric dance company Raices Profundas, which gave him elegance, precision and strength in his movements.
CRISTIAN MAURICIO
CHILE / SPAIN
Having studied Cuban folklore at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), Cristian Mauricio is not only a great teacher but also a faithful champion of the traditions of Cuban Popular and Folkloric Dances. As director and choreographer of his company of Cuban dances, TIM MANANA, he has recently won the title of Bicampeónes del Rueda de Casino World Championship (WADF). His passion for son has led him to be the current principal dancer of Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro, and he has also received the Bicampeón and Rumbero Legacy Award for his trajectory in the teaching and diffusion of the Cuban Rumba, for 10 wins in the 12 competitions of Rumba Columbia at the International Afro-Cuban Festival of Guaguancó.
ANIA KUROWSKA
POLAND
Ania Kurowska from Cracow is a brilliant Polish instructor and choreographer with tremendous Cuban heart and soul. She’s going to enchant you with her masterful seductive moves in timba and rumba as well as her positive vibe and amazing energy. This is not the first time we’re bringing Ania to Vienna, and for good reason – we cannot get enough of her inspiring workshops!
ERYK JANUSZYK
POLAND
Hailing from Poland, Eryk Januszyk is an amazing dancer with Cuban soul and moves (and quite a fan base in Vienna established over the years we’ve been able to learn from him). His positive energy, powerful moves, dynamic choreos and individual approach make it a unique and fun experience to participate in his workshops. Whether it's Columbia, Timba musicality, Son, Reggaeton or even Dancehall – he will inspire you with his passion and patiently help you master your moves.
ERICK SANSARYS
CUBA / AUSTRIA
Erick was born and raised in Havana. His first dance experience came at the age of 16 at the "Teatro America", where he took classes in ballet, folklore and contemporary dance, which inspired his growing passion for the Cuban "Casino". With the "Rueda de Casino" team of his hometown Cotorro he won numerous competitions and achieved 3rd place in the successful Cuban TV show "Bailar Casino" in 2005. Erick was a dancer of "Raices Profundas" and studied to become a teacher of Cuban social dances. Since 2019, Erick has been living in Vienna, where he has also had the pleasure of teaching several fun-filled workshops full of positive energy with cubaila viena.
ELIANA GRACIELA
CHILE / AUSTRIA
Eliana is a saxophonist, dancer and pedagogue. She grew up in a family of musicians and was heavily influenced by her Chilean roots and her father, who lives and works as a musician in Cuba and Mexico. She learned to dance casino in Cuba, but reggaeton, which was becoming popular on the island at the time, impressed Eliana even more. In addition to studying music, Eliana also continued her dance education and took classes in various styles such as hip hop, ballet, dancehall and samba. But Cuban music and dance culture have remained her first love. Eliana has turned her passion into one of her various jobs and has been teaching reggaeton with cubaila viena since 2016.
YUNEL AGUERO IBARRA
CUBA / AUSTRIA
Born in the Buenavista district of Havana, Yunel made his first experience with teaching, methodology and the dynamics of dancing as instructor in the dance section of the Sprachcaffe language school, followed by collaborations with other schools such as Casa del Son or Salsabor, as well as the project Baila Habana, where he could continue developing together with various other dance instructors and also hone his skills in afro and timba. In Vienna, Yunel has for several years been teaching his passionate brand of salsa suelta and rueda the casino, thus spreading Cuban joy of life and energy wherever he goes.
YURIEL COLUMBIE
CUBA / AUSTRIA
Yuriel from Cuba, or as most people know him: "Yuri". Full of spirit and energy Yuri always pays attention to the joy of dancing. During his university years as an engineer in Havana he supported several dance projects, and later, living in Spain, Yuri was able to deepen his passion for Cuban dance and other styles. In 2019 he moved to Austria, where he has been working with dance schools as well as pursuing his own projects. Yuri will inspire you with fun Chachachá choreos and fiery Salsa Suelta classes.
JAN BERVAR
SLOVENIA
Jan is the founder of Cubana Ljubljana, the largest Cuban dance school and community in Slovenia. Besides teaching all flavours of Cuban dances, he is continuously researching everything related to Cuban dance, music, history, and culture in depth - both from his sofa as well as walking the backstreets of Cuba. At the festival, he is going to share his knowledge with us during his theory workshop: "Son, Salsa, Timba? The evolution of popular Cuban dance music" on Friday at Boogie Lounge before we start our Menéate Viena Welcome Party.
DJs
These DJs will make sure we´re going to dance all night long.
DJ LA PANTERA
PERU / SPAIN
DJ INDIO
HUNGARY
DJ EL HONGUITO
POLAND
LIVE MUSIC
Workshops with live percussion? Here we go!
ENITÓNLÙKÍKAN
AUSTRIA
Ẹnitóńlùkíkan is a percussion ensemble directed by Christian Martinek, with Heidemarie Schableger and Moussa Kone. The group is devoted to Afrocuban music with religious background and folklore rhythms, such as the Ciclos Yorùbá, Arará or Congo, and Rumba. The trio is going to accompany some of our workshops with live percussion.
PICTURES & VIDEO
Who is goin to capture the best moments at workshops & parties?
We can´t wait to see pictures and videos by Ivett Angeles and Panda Cam!
PROGRAM
Four days full of workshops & parties.
Who is teaching which workshops, and what’s the schedule?
