The History of Latin Caribbean Dance & Music

Expand your cultural understanding, while learning healthy relationship and character development skills, through the history of Latin Caribbean dance and music. 

We focus on sharing relevant and inspiring information about Latin dance and music from the islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico and The Dominican Republic through a powerpoint presentation, interactive performances and hands on, experiential learning. 

Participants will:

• Expand their geographical awareness of the Latin Caribbean in relation to where they currently live. 
• Explore the impact of the African Diaspora and its contributions to the dance and music of the Latin Caribbean, as well as throughout the African Diaspora.
• Learn vocabulary for the various dances, cultures, music and countries that we’ll highlight.  
• Practice basic counting skills and mind-body coordination through dance and body movement.
• Learn the basic steps of the salsa, bachata, merengue and cha, cha,cha dances to their appropriate music.  Dance is geared towards the level of the student.
• Learn solo and/or partner Latin dancing and free form body movement  
• Learn about healthy relationship tools, healthy boundaries, how to work together as a team with others, character development and clear communication skills through these presentations and classes.

This can be an instructional dance class with one dance instructor. Or, this can be an interactive dance performance for the whole school. We can also do two back to back performances for the entire school, with two dancers. 

This class or performance is appropriate for all ages from elementary aged students through adults.  

Skills that participants will learn during our classes or performances:

• Healthy, effective communication skills both verbally and non-verbally
• How to listen effectively to yourself and your dance partners, team players, colleagues, classmates
• Practice reading and pronunciation skills from vocabulary taught
• Geographical, cultural and historical awareness of the African Diaspora
• Expand views on perspectives about history and its role in human, cultural and artistic development
• Practice basic math and counting skills along with mind-body coordination exercises
• Empowered self-awareness and awareness of others
• Self-inquiry from an empowering standpoint
• Positive self-image cultivated by clarity of the role they are taking on and how to execute this role effectively for the greater benefit of the the whole
• Acknowledgement as a tool for healthy team building
• Authentic self-expression
• How to work together as a team
• Self-esteem building through healthy, interactive activities
• Centering and self-calming mindfulness techniques, like watching the breath to calm the nervous system
• Body Centered Awareness to receive important information our bodies and nervous systems are trying to tell us
• Feeling and processing emotions in healthy ways

This can be booked with or without a live band.  

Contact Sarah below to get in touch about booking rates and a variety of options for this programming for in school, after school, multicultural events and academies.