Okan Tomi project
Academia de Danza y Ritmo
Dance workshops with Cuban dance partners in Havana
Okan Tomi owns a former cinema - the Cine Alba - in Havana's Playa district as a rehearsal and performance venue. Up to 12 dance partners are available to train with interested groups in the dance workshops. Workshops are given for all Latin American dances from habanera to salsa and reggaeton.
The group also offers percussion workshops for Afro-Cuban and all Latin American styles.
Here is a video about the group.
For more information, visit
or contact Okan Tomi directly:
okantomicuba@yahoo.com
The address of Cine Alba: Ave 51, Esquina 44, Puentes Grandes Municipio Playa, Havana, Cuba, phone: (0053) 5 314 88 65;
Picture gallery
Okan Tomi project
Cultural exchange with a dance group from Havana
The Institute of Music has maintained close contact with the socio-cultural project Okan Tomi since 2006. The project was founded in 1993 in Havana's Marianao neighbourhood with the aim of offering socially disadvantaged children and young people a perspective. Today, the group is well-known in Havana and regularly performs at cultural events.
In addition to Latin American dance and percussion styles, Okan Tomi's repertoire is also characterised by the Afro-Cuban dance and drumming tradition.
The name "Okan Tomi" comes from the West African Yoruba language.
Many of the 24 group members studied at the Instituto Pedagógico in Havana and also teach dance and drumming.
12 members of Okan Tomi visited northern Germany in 2009 and 2011. Together with students and pupils from the local so-called Cuban band, they put on a show during both visits, which was performed in theatres in the region. They also gave dance and percussion workshops at schools in the region.
In return, students visited Cuba in 2010, 2012 and 2016 and gave shows together with Okan Tomi in Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Cienfuegos.
