San Diego Casinero Invasion in LA for Tim & Maritza's Birthday (Curuye Timba Party)

That's right mi gente!
Tim Snedeker (rueda de casino instructor in Encenitas) has confirmed to be at the Curuye Timba Party on Sunday, May 5th so we can both celebrate our birthdays to dance to timba and be amongst our casino families.  So if you are interested.  We have a couple of drivers (for carpool) who plan to be at the Oceanside Park & Ride across from Hunter Steak House (Intersection of the 1-5 and HWY 78) at 3:00pm on Sunday. We might have some drivers who will be leaving later as well.

It is Cinco de Mayo folks. That means there will be traffic in LA. Be ready to go at 3pm from the Park & Ride to get to Alhambra on time for the dance lesson which will start at 5pm sharp.  I just need to know how many of you are planning to go. Please text me your name or e-mail me at sbdiva32@yahoo.com.

Orlando and I are planning to make a weekend of celebrating and we are going Saturday as well for Cuba Libre Night on Saturday at El Criollo Bar & Grill to go dancing. Marlon Clark organizes this venue every Saturday night and it is a great time.  If you want to make it a whole weekend of timba, rueda, casino etc. here is what is happening Both May 4th and May 5th

Saturday, May 4th
11:00am Rueda-In-The-Park Culver City
Media Park, 9070 Venice Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

7:30pm-8:30pm El Cuba Libre at El Criollo Cuban Bar & Grill
Dance lessons with Marlon and Amy (guest insructors weekly)
No partner necessary. $10 (Class included) $5 after 9pm
916 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank, CA 91506

9:00pm-2:00am El Cuba Libre At El Criollo Cuban Bar & Grill
DJ Ricubana Playing Timba-Salsa, Bachata and Cubaton (818)260-0211
916 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank, CA 91506

Sunday, May 5th
11:00am Oricha Therapy with Kati Hernandez at
Universal Dance Design Studios.
6009 W Olympic Blvd.

OR
11:00am Rueda-In-The-Park Griffith Park

1st & 3rd Sunday
4730 Crystal Springs Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90027

5:00pm-10:00pm Curuye Timba Dance Party at
The Granada Ballroom in Alhambra (3rd floor; go all the way to the top floor)
17 South First St., Alhambra 91801
$10 cover All ages welcome!!

This Friday, AfroCuban Dance Workshop in North County! Don't miss out!

Reminder that this Friday we have a Master Instructor, Juan Carlos Blanco who will be in Encinitas to teach.

Master Instructor and Director of Omo Ashe Cuban Cultural Arts, Juan Carlos Blanco is hosting a workshop in Dance North County Studio in Encinitas. YES! He's is going to be in North County!!!
Come learn Yoruba, Congo, Franco-Haitian, & Arará traditions...all to LIVE DRUMMING!!!
Below are the details:

When: Friday, May 3, 2013 from 6:30pm-8:00pm

Where: Dance North County, 535 Encinitas Blvd.Suite #100, Encinitas, CA 92024

Cost: $12

La Salsa Cubana Documentary Film Now Released on Amazon

Eric Johnson, Sarita Streng and Alvaro Rangel's documentary film has been released for purchasing on Amazon. Click here to buy your copy and support the efforts of Eric, Sarita and Alvaro by buying a copy of their lovely film. This SHOULD have been at the San Diego Film Festival. I just bought my copy. Movie night anyone??!!

AfroCasino Rueda, Latin Rhythms Workout, and Cuban Body Movement Class by Wilfredo Guilbiac Rodriguez

Que bola? Que bolon? Que se formo el rumbon!
Ven y diviertete, disfruta de nuestras clases esta semana...paquetes y promociones accesibles para todos! 

Wazzzuuup my peeps!!?? Let's start the party now! Come and have fun with our classes this week. We have monthly accessible packages for all!

Tuesdays
10-11am: Cuban Latin Fitness
7-8pm: Afro-Cuban
8-9pm: Afro Salsa, Timba, Cubaton

Thursdays
7-8pm: Afro Casino Rueda (Beginner)
8-9pm: Afro Casino Rueda (Intermediate/Advanced)
Description: Training of casino technique

Fridays
10-11am: Cuban Latin Fitness

Saturdays
1-2pm: Afro Casino Rueda Social (Beginner)
2-3pm: Afro Casino Rueda Social (Intermediate/ Advanced)
Description: Social dancing

Prices:
Evening classes:
Drop-in: $12
5 classes (to be used within 1 month): $50
Monthly membership with unlimited classes: $100

Morning Fitness classes:
Drop-in: $10
Monthly membership with unlimited classes: $75

Dancing Unlimited
4569 30th St San Diego, CA 92116

Wilfredo Guilbiac 
havanadancer@gmail.com

Monday Rueda de Casino Class Series Starts May 6th in Carlsbad

Greetings Casineros,
I will be starting a new series of rueda de casino classes (7 week-package) through City of Carlsbad Parks & Recreation. It begins May 6th through June 24th, Monday nights from 7:30pm-8:30pm. You can register online for this series or you can pay at the Calavera Hills Community Center Front Desk on first night of the class. The whole series is $56. That's a deal!! Come to the desk before the class to pay for the series. That way, we can start the class on time and take advantage of dancing and learning for an hour. The class is growing and a lot of fun!

The class # is: 55752
The address to the Calavera Hills Community Center is
2997 Glasgow Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92010

Palomar Faculty Dance Performance - May 9th & 10th

Greetings Casineros,
There will be an AfroCuban dance performance, along with other cultural dance performances on Thursday and Friday, May 9th & 10th at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. Our very own, casinera, Nabia Meghelli, will be in this show. Come cheer her on and enjoy all the different cultural expressions through dance at this event. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online or at the door.

THIS JUST IN! Live Son Band "Combo Libertad" playing in Del Mar This Thursday

Greetings Casineros!
Great News! A local "son" band from North County called Combo Libertad will be playing live at Club M inside the Grand Hotel Del Mar. Come support this wonderful band that plays some really great son classics. Join them for live salsa music, premium rums and specialty cocktails, hand rolled cigars and a special tapas menu. Below are the details:

What: Live son music from Combo Libertad (dancing)
When: Thursday, April 25th 7:30pm-10:30pm
Where: Club M inside the Grand Hotel Del Mar - 5200 Grand Del Mar Way, San Diego, CA 92130
  (click the address above to get Google directions)
Cost: No cover but it is $10 valet only; This is a high-end fancy, swanky, place, so if you want to dress up, go for it!!!
Una bulla!

TODAY Casino on Cardboard at Oceanside Harbor Beach at 5pm-7pm

Que Bola Mi Gente!
It's a gorgeous day today to spend at the beach dancing to timba as the sun goes down.  TODAY is the April installment of Casino on Cardboard at Oceanside Harbor Beach. If you were there last February, it's the same spot as before. Look for the picnic hut as shown in the picture below:

Directions for those who don't use a GPS:
On I-5, take Exit 54C to Oceanside Harbor Dr. and make a right
Take Oceanside Harbor Dr going west(towards the beach) until it end. Make a left.
There will be a fork on the road, go left on the fork going SOUTH Harbor Dr.
FREE parking will be across the street from Joe's Crab Shack, drive through the tunnel and park
(If you want to park closer, they have pay station parking lots all around. It would be about $8-10 all together.)
Whether walking or driving, keep going on Harbor Dr. around the marina and make a right on N. Pacific St, keep walking towards the children's playground and public bathrooms( if you pass these up, you've gone too far). You will see the picnic hut with the tall palm trees all around as shown on the picture above before the playground/bathrooms.

This is a FREE event. All we ask is that you bring a snack to share and bring something to drink. There is a small convenience store (Harbor Pelican Store) if you need water or other refreshments.

FYI, I will be using my cell phone to plug in for music, so I will not respond to any calls/text message after 5pm.  If you're wondering what to wear, come with casual beach clothes like shorts, flip flops, old sneakers, beach sandals etc (no high heels as it will puncture the cardboard and its better to dance casino on flatter footwear...easier to move around). Come with some layers as it will cool off fast once the sun goes down. BUT...the more you dance, the warmer you will be. We've got natural air-conditioning, the Pacific Ocean! Bring your cameras! This will be a great day for pictures. See you there!!! Una Bulla!
Maritza

Dia De San Juan Salsa & Bachata Festival - featuring Afrotruko Orchestra

Greetings Casineros,
As you know, I try to support the Latin jazz and orchestras who play timba, son, danzon, son montuno, and Cuban cha cha cha. CHARLIE CHAVEZ Y SU AFROTRUKO are playing at the Dia de San Juan Salsa Bachata Festival on Sunday, June 30th. Last year, there was a casinero invasion at this event so there were ruedas and people dancing casino. Let's see if we can do that this year!! Below are the details:

When: Sunday, June 30th, 2013

Where: Four Points by Sheraton San Diego - 8110 Aero Drive, San Diego, California 92123
Cost:  Kids 10 and under FREE! Tickets on Sale NOW
Purchase tickets at www.latinflavorproduction.com

Curuye Timba Party for May 5th - Come Celebrate Maritza's Birthday!

Curuye Party for May is coming up! It will be SUNDAY, May 5th in Alhambra at the Granada Ballroom from 5pm to 9pm. $10 per person and a guaranteed good time dancing. Kati Hernandez teaches a salsa suelta and casino class in there. It must not be missed. Those were some fun moves. I am going and since it is my birthday month, I would love to have a lot of you come up to LA to dance with me. I am going to see if we can kidnap Tim Snedeker to come up there with us to celebrate our birthdays. We are 3 days apart (May 1st and May 4th). Let me know if you plan on coming. We will probably need a couple of cars to caravan together. If we carpool, we use the carpool lane and it makes it that much faster to get there and back. E-mail me or text me if you plan to go sbdiva32@yahoo.com or 206-300-4523.
Una Bulla!
Maritza

Rueda in The Park in Santa Ana is a MUST GO event!

I went to Rueda in the Park in Santa Ana yesterday and I gotta tell ya. You all missed out! They have a fun happy group of casineros, very welcoming and they have two great instructors. Robert Morales is awesome at breaking the movement down. Laura Cristina is great at checking to see if people got the move or not. They are a great team! I HIGHLY recommend you join me in two weeks to come dance at their rueda in the park. I can take 4 people in my car. Let me know wants to go with me. Below are the details:

When: Saturday, April 27th from 11:30am to 1:30pm. 
Where: Centennial Regional Park - 3000 W. Edinger Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92704Cost: There is a $5 donation per person. 




We can also have lunch afterwards with them too! Breaking bread together and dancing casino. Does it get any better than that??

New Cuban Latin Fitness Class with Wilfredo Guilbiac Rodriguez

Come dance, have fun, and loose weight with the best and latest Latin music mixes:
samba, reggaeton, merengue, salsa, mambo, cha cha cha, pop latino, and much more!

Our very own Wilfredo Guilbiac Rodriguez, professionally trained and skilled instructor from Havana, Cuba will be teaching this workout. Below are the details:

When: Tuesdays from 10-11am, starting April 16th.

Where: Dancing Unlimited,  4569 30th St. San Diego, CA 92116
Cost: $10 per class

For more info, please contact: Wilfredo Guilbiac Rodriguez havanadancer@gmail.com

AfroCuban Dance Workshop with Master Instructor Juan Carlos Blanco in North County

Greetings Casineros!
Master Instructor and Director of Omo Ashe Cuban Cultural Arts, Juan Carlos Blanco is hosting a workshop in Dance North County Studio in Encinitas. YES! He's is going to be in North County!!!
Come learn Yoruba, Congo, Franco-Haitian, & Arará traditions...all to LIVE DRUMMING!!!
Below are the details:

When: Friday, May 3, 2013 from 6:30pm-8:00pm

Where: Dance North County, 535 Encinitas Blvd.Suite #100, Encinitas, CA 92024

Cost: TBA 

Rueda In The Park - Santa Ana Sat, Apr 13th

This Saturday, there is going to be a Rueda in the Park in Santa Ana. Anyone interested in going? Let's get our rueda on with our vecinos (neighbors) de Orange County. Let me know (e-mail me at sbdiva32@yahoo.com), because I would like to go and it would be fun to meet our vecinos from our neighboring county. It's in the late morning so you can get your dance on early and have the rest of the day to do whatever you like. 

Here are the details:

What: Rueda in the Park in Santa Ana

When: Saturday, April 13th from 11:30am to 1:30pm

Where: Centennial Regional Park 3000 W. Edinger Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92704

Una Bulla!

Maritza

Alexander Abreu Y Su Havana D' Primera in LA on Thursday, May 30th

That's right Mi Gente! They are back. If you did not get a chance to see them before, this is your opportunity to see and listen to this worldwide famous orchestra. You are going to love every song they play. Don't miss out! Here are the details on the flyer listed and the Facebook event page.

Casino on Cardboard in Oceanside Harbor

Greetings Casineros!





It's that time again to dance outside. We're getting the cardboard out so we can dance as the sun goes down.  Check out the great photos that were taken at this very location in Oceanside Harbor back in February!!!




Here are the details:

 What: Casino on Cardboard
When: Saturday, April 20th from 5pm-7pm
Where: Oceanside Harbor Beach (from the I-5, exit Oceanside Harbor and go west. If you go east you end up at Camp Pendelton
Here is the link to the location/directions on Google Maps

This is a free event and it is family friendly. So bring the kids!
It is a snack-luck, so bring something to share and bring some water or any beverage you like. I have new music and a new rock blocker so we could keep dancing for a long long time.

I'll be leading a salsa suelta line and calling some ruedas. So come and enjoy dancing outside to natural air-conditioning, We have two visiting casineros coming in from Seattle (Desiree) and Denver(Adnan). Let's welcome them San Diego style!

Una Bulla