PlazaCUBA - Music, Dance and Culture

02/03/2025

Such a pleasure to take our travelers to Havana’s vibrant music schools, where we’re always blown away by the incredible talent of the next generation. This stunning rendition of Dos Gardenias was just one of many unforgettable moments we experienced. 🎶✨

02/01/2025

Pedrito Martinez at the Havana Jazz Festival last night!

02/01/2025

Dayramir González VIDA at the last night!

01/31/2025

Stay tuned for our upcoming ticket giveaway!! 🎊

SFJAZZ presents a once in a lifetime concert featuring two of most influential figures in Afro-Cuban jazz, virtuoso pianist Chucho Valdés and trumpet icon Arturo Sandoval with special guest Afro-Cuban superstar Cimafunk on February 22nd at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland reuniting as part of Irakere 50, the latest iteration of the legendary band that changed the course of Latin music in the 1970s and 80s and launched both of their stellar careers.

Discovered and introduced internationally by Dizzy Gillespie, the band’s unprecedented synthesis of folkloric Afro-Cuban rhythms, sacred drums, rock, funk, R&B, and jazz opened vast new frontiers, and helped pave the way for the pervasively popular dance music known as timba.

Don’t miss out - this is a once-in-a-lifetime concert event!

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

01/26/2025

We are only a couple of days away from our Havana Jazz Festival Tour, and we couldn't be more excited! 🎶🌟 It’s going to be an unforgettable experience for our travelers! 🎺💃🏽🇨🇺

Thanks to Rick Swig for these wonderful Jazz Plaza photos.

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!