The Afro-Latin Lounge

SONS OF CUBA, an award winning feature documentary, was released at the ICA in London on 18th March and in arthouse cinemas nationwide from 30th March. The project has been a labour of love for young director Andrew Lang who spent a year living in Cuba in order to gain unprecedented access to the legendary Havana Boxing Academy, the state institution that breeds future boxing champions for the island that has dominated Olympic medals in the sport for the last few decades. SONS OF CUBA follows the stories of three young hopefuls through 8 dramatic months of training and education as they prepare for the biggest event of their lives so far: Cuba’s National Boxing Championship for Under-12s. But during the season, crisis strikes: Fidel Castro is taken ill and all of Cuba’s Olympic boxing champions defect to the USA. As the championship draws closer, the Cuba that the boys have been taught to believe in is at an historic crossroads.
There’s more information on our website www.sonsofcuba.com, but just to give you some highlights, it’s been described in the press as:
Affecting & entertaining. It has all the makings of an arthouse hit" Hollywood Reporter
"A gem of a picture" Empire
"Strikingly intimate" Time Out
"A truly top notch documentary" Eye for Film

We’re still recovering from the March Rumbon Cubano’s astonishing rumba party, but wanted to let you know early that the next El Rumbon Cubano on 11th April will be a very special night as we’ll be celebrating our SECOND anniversary!
Please make a note in your diary to come down and help us make it a party to remember.Doors open 7pm, dance class 7.30-8.30pm. Live band, plus DJ and dancing until 2am.
Dance the night away to live music from the dynamic full-of-flavour Cuban band Son Mas, featuring the inimitable Yuri Moreno!
DJ Javier will also be keeping the dance floor cooking - Cuban style!
Enjoy dance classes with the very talented Yanet Fuentes!
Free anniversary compilation CD for the first 100 paying people through the door!
And more surprises - join us to celebrate on this VERY special night!

Come and add some flavour to your salsa in our regular dance class taught by Yanet Fuentes - salsa champion and star of BBC1's So You Think You Can Dance,
7.30-8.30pm Afro-Cuban and Rumba applied to Salsa (all levels) Dance class £10 including entry to the rest of El Rumbon Cubano

Register online for discount admission - £7 (excluding dance class)On the door £10 The Rumbon takes place at our regular West End venue:
Nueva Costa Dorada47-55 Hanway StreetLondonW1T 1UX
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Tube -Tottenham Court Rd – Central/Northern linesBuses – 29,24,134,73,38,55,25,98,390,10,7,8

Delicious Spanish food available until midnight. Bar open until 2am

Hello Again,

(Lots of news this week, so please excuse the multiple emails!)The Fairtrade Foundation is in the process of planning an event for World Fair Trade Day (details below) and are currently looking for high quality performance groups who are interested in coming along to perform on our large covered stage in 20 - 45 minute slots throughout the weekend. The event will allow them access to a great audience and there are no fees required to use our stage.This is an unpaid opportunity.
The 2010 Fairtrade Festival on World Fair Trade Day
Background and Programme for the day:
World Fair Trade Day is a global festival of Fair Trade with events organized across 70 countries. More information on the global event can be found by visiting the World Fair Trade Day 2010 website http://www.worldfai rtradeday10. org/.
Our event will be Fairtrade fun for everyone! There will be the opportunity to experience everything Fairtrade: food, music, film, entertainment, games and free samples from Fairtrade companies.
There will also be loads for kids to do, including football themed games, children’s author Tom Palmer, a video link with children in Ghana, performance workshops and free chocolate.
Dates / Times:
Friday 7 May 5pm-9.30pm
Saturday 8 May 11am-9.30pm
Sunday 9 May 11am-5pm
Venue:
Potters Field on the South Bank
What next?
Please contact Esther McDonald(esther.mcdonald@ fairtrade. org.uk) as soon as possible and by Friday 26 March at the latest to let her know whether you would like to be considered for participation.
Good luck!

Hi beauties and handsomes
A short email to let you know that we are now collecting £125 deposit for our Cultural holiday to CUBA on the 4th of August for an unforgettable 13 nights/14 days. Our brief programme, prices and terms and conditions have now been finalised. We are very happy to answer any of your questions and are looking forward to this trip. Please let me know if you are interested in this holiday and would like more information.
I guarantee you that it will be a unique and unforgettable time of your Life .
Stop dreaming and pack your suitcase, book the cultural experience of a life time with the Cuban School of Arts-----------------------------------Please check prices below
Cultural Holidays with The Cuban School of Arts- Summer 2010

Name: Cuba seen thru the eyes of an artist- Live the experience- breath CUBA!

Creator – Damarys Farres - Cuban School of Arts
Assistant- Wojtek Mach
Travel Agency– Hola Caribe part of Gazelle Travel
ATOL 4067 protected

· Price is per person, based on two people sharing (a single room supplement is available at just £300 for the entire trip) and includes all accommodation, flights, tourist card, booking fee, breakfast, transfers from and to airport, trips outside Havana, 15 hours of a mixture class tuition & more

Summer holidays – 4th August to 17th August (2 weeks – 13nights)
- Prices
- £1,399- VIP (For students taking current courses with the Cuban School of Arts) Available until 18th April
- £1,449 – Early bird discount – available until 9th May
- £1,499- after 9th May
- £125 - Deposit (non refundable)
- £300 – Single supplement

* All prices are in sterling pounds (based in two people sharing a room)Muchosssssssssss besosoososDamarys Farres (The Cuban School of Arts & UK Cuban Salsa Champion)
BA Hons Dance Studies, UKA qualified teacher & ADAD & UK-Dance member+ 44 (0) 7788 110421 http://uk.mc244.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Cubanschool_arts@yahoo.com http://www.cubanschool.co.uk/

For those of you who have been missing our Rumbon Cubano Cuban children's parties, here is information from Culture Proof - the brand new Cuban children's entertainment company.
Don't miss their day of Latin-American dance workshops plus live performance on Saturday 24th April - details below, please contact Leximan on 07943 996679 for more information and to book your child's place.
Carlos and OlwenCubacheche

Culture Proof!
The brand New Cuban Children’s entertainment company is proud to introduce for the first time in the UK
An amazing line up of Latin-American Dance workshop

Saturday 24th April at St Martin’s Church, Mortimer Road,
Kensal Green, NW10 5SN

For Children aged 5 to 12 years old
With the best qualified Cuban’s and Latin-American tutors
And will run from11.30am - 4.30pm

The line up is as follows:

- Brazilian Capueira
- Afro- Cuban Dance
- Street dance & Disco
- Afro- Cuban Drumming
1 day pass including all workshops, refreshments and live performance will cost £20 per child.
Alternatively workshops will be at a cost of £7 per class.

* Play area for younger siblings
* Face Painting for all £2
More info on 07943 996679 - Leximan