PlazaCUBA - Music, Dance and Culture

01/22/2025

Mark your calendars for our Dance in Cuba Tour, April 25 - May 2, 2026.

In the meantime, we’re gearing up for an unforgettable adventure on our Havana Jazz Festival Tour starting next week! 🎷✨

Can't wait to share the magic with all of you – stay tuned for highlights, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and all things jazz! 🎶🇨🇺

01/16/2025

President Joe Biden notified Congress of his intent to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House announced, as part of a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island.

The Cuban foreign ministry on Tuesday said that the government informed Pope Francis it will release 553 people who had been convicted of different crimes. It said that they will be gradually released, as the authorities analyze the legal and humanitarian ways to make it happen.

The Cuban government is conscious that the incoming government in the U.S. could reverse the decision, but that it will remain “ready to develop a respectful relation with that country, based on dialogue and non-interference in the internal affairs of both countries, despite the differences.”

President Joe Biden has notified Congress of his intent to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House announced, as part of a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island.

01/12/2025

We're finalizing all the details for our upcoming Havana Jazz Festival Tour. Check out the official teaser video for the festival Roberto Fonseca posted!

01/08/2025

Keep your eyes out for ticket giveaways coming soon! This will be a fantastic show, February 22 at Paramount Theatre in Oakland!

Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/24-25/chucho-valdes-irakere-50/

SFJAZZ Chucho Valdés Oficial Cimafunk

01/02/2025

Wishing everyone a wonderful 2025! We hope your year is filled with dance, music, inspiration and travel.

Photo at Tropicana nightclub by Rick Swig.

12/30/2024

What a great way to close out the year! Yesterday, hundreds of couples danced together with simultaneous Ruedas de Casino all throughout Cuba, celebrating the end of the year and the 66th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. The event was also a celebration of culture, identity and national essence according to the president of the Retomando el Son project, one of the organizations linked with the project.

12/27/2024

Hoping everyone is having a holiday season filled with joy, music, dance and fun!

12/20/2024

Our dance trips are so much fun! Mark your calendars for our next Dance in Cuba tour, April 25 - May 2, 2026. We don't have a dance tour in 2025, but our 2026 tour will be 🔥🔥🔥!!!

12/14/2024

Bay Area! Check out this event tomorrow with some of our favorite Bay Area teachers!

SCHEDULE:

11am - 12pm
Folkloric fusion dance technique class with Denmis Savigne

12:15pm - 1:15pm
Song and percussion class with Yoel Mulen

1:20pm - 2:20pm
Vodú and Gagá dance class with Royland Lobato

2:20pm - 3:15pm
Break

3:15pm
Orú Igbodú Performance (oro seco) with:
Iyá and vocal - Roberto Borrel
Itotelé and vocal - Jesus Diaz
Okonkolo and Akpon - Yoel Mulen
Dance - Pablito Dinamico

4pm
Bembé ceremony
Open to everyone who wants to dance, sing, and play!

5pm - 6:30pm
Social network dancing

PRICING:
Advance Purchase (by 12/14):

$20 per class
$45 full package (dance and song & drum classes)

Pay with Venmo () or Zelle (713 499 9564). Please include your name and the class(es) you are paying for.

Pay at the Door:
$25 per dance class
$30 for the song & percussion class
$55 for the full package

Note:No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

For any questions, please contact [email protected]

12/13/2024

TICKET GIVEAWAY!!! 🎉🎉🎉 Share to WIN a PAIR of TICKETS to see Spanish Harlem Orchestra at SFJAZZ Saturday, December 21!

Share and tag - Music, Dance and Culture and for a chance to win 2 tickets!! 🎊 Comment, so we'll know, regardless of your privacy settings.

Or, get your tickets today at: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/24-25/spanish-harlem-orchestra/

We're happy to sponsor this concert. Stop by PlazaCUBA’s table to say hi. Suerte!!!

12/08/2024

We're looking forward to our upcoming Havana Jazz Festival Tour in January - there are so many fantastic artists and shows in the festival every year!

Photos: Rick Swig

12/03/2024

🎉 When you're fiestando with Compañía BanRarrá and they suddenly break into spontaneous choreography and a full performance—just for fun! 🎶 It’s moments like these that make our trips truly unforgettable.

We’re honored to work with phenomenal dancers and companies who bring our tours to life!

11/30/2024

The richness of our Havana Jazz Festival tour goes beyond the nightly concerts. Our daytime excursions offer a deep dive into the tapestry of Cuban culture. We often visit the Escuela Nacional de Arte (La ENA) to watch talented dance students in action. Can’t wait for more unforgettable experiences this January!

11/29/2024

If you haven't experienced Spanish Harlem Orchestra's holiday sound, you're in for a treat December 21 & 22! SHO brings that classic NYC salsa dura sound to life with Puerto Rican Christmas tunes and their signature rhythm at SFJAZZ. Don't miss the fiesta!

Get your tickets today - https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/24-25/spanish-harlem-orchestra/

11/28/2024

We're grateful for all the years of sharing the beauty and vibrancy of Cuba with you. This was during our 20th Anniversary Music and Dance trip, and we're about to step into our 25th year in 2025! it’s been an incredible journey. Here’s to many more! 🇨🇺✨

11/25/2024

🎷🌟 Our Havana Jazz Festival Tour is coming up in January. It is truly a phenomenal experience with world-class concerts nightly, plus exclusive excursions daily. 🎶

Unfortunately, this exclusive tour is SOLD OUT, but trust us, the magic of Havana and its jazz scene is worth the wait. Stay tuned for future tours, because you won't want to miss out on the next unforgettable journey.

Thanks to Rick Swig for these stunning photos.



You said:

11/22/2024

Cuba's Latin American School of Medicine celebrates 25 years! E.L.A.M was established in 1999 to provide healthcare to vulnerable populations in the Caribbean and Central America after natural disasters.

E.L.A.M. goes beyond education — it trains doctors committed to serving communities with limited access to healthcare, focusing on public health and preventative care over expensive treatments. This approach reflects Cuba’s healthcare model, which prioritizes prevention and early detection to improve outcomes and reduce costs.

The school offers free tuition to international students, creating a global network of healthcare professionals. Graduates often return to rural and underserved areas, making a lasting impact on health systems worldwide. Cuba has sent over 50,000 doctors to more than 60 countries, furthering its mission of global health solidarity.



Images and excerpts from the New Yorker, Wired, Medium and People's World.