* YULIET CRUZ Raul was born in Guantanamo, Cuba in 1958 just as Castro's Cuban Revolution began and he is very much a child of the revolution. His family were farmers way out in Guantanamo Province - a four hour drive and a six hour walk from the nearest metal led road. The political changes in Cuba meant massive changes in the education and health systems: because of them Raul was able to leave the countryside and work initially with well known older Cuban artists and then go on to college. Being both poor and coloured this would not previously have been open to him. His works are exhibited widely in Cuba and he won many prizes for it. He came to live in Solva, Pembrokeshire sixteen years ago after a four year stay in London. The BBC visited Havana in 1989 filming the young political artists, writers and creators who were very active there: Raul was one of these. As a consequence of this the BBC arranged an exhibition for him at Holland Park Gallery in London. He was unable to get out of Cuba to attend this but came to London shortly afterwards where he was granted British Nationality. He opened a gallery in London's Spittalfields Market making friends with Gilbert and George who lived nearby and through them meeting Damien Hirst and Tracy Emin. During this time Raul exhibited over much of Europe being part of a young black artists group many of whom have gone on to be world famous. At first seduced by the buzz of the capital and the fast flowing art world around him it felt like another planet but he soon began to crave peace and quiet to get on with his work. Meeting his current wife, Heather, he came by chance on holiday to Pembrokeshire and decided this was where he wanted to be. His work is multi faceted moving from abstract to figurative, from oil painting to printing to mixed media and from one dimension to s.culptural pieces. He uses whatever material he needs to express the links he makes between art, religion, science and politics and is very aware of the lessons history has to teach us. He believes that the role of the artist is that of the seer - to gather in all forms of information and to form them into works which speek to those who see them. He still exhibits world wide but prefers to stay near home, as much as is possible http://www.raulspeek.co.uk/ Omar Puente is a classical violinist with a heart that beats with a Cuban rhythm, a soul that is African, and a home in West Yorkshire. His career has been as varied as his life. He began learning violin at five, and at the age of thirteen, he travelled alone to Havana to take up a scholarship. The next few years were spent studying classical violin and learning all he could about Cuban music and jazz. After graduating, Omar played in Cuban bands such as Orquesta Enrique Jorrin (with Ruben Gonzalez), and Rubalcaba’s Charanga Tipica de Concierto (with renowned Cuban bassist, Cachao) He studied classical music as a member of the National Symphony Orchestra while learning jazz from musicians like Chucho Valdes. Since coming to England Omar has taught Cuban music and jazz violin at Leeds College of Music and Trinity College of Music. He is a regular member of Courtney Pine’s band, has performed with the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, composed music for a Carlos Acosta ballet, performed in London with Nigel Kennedy, Eddie Palmieri and the late Tito Puente (no relation), and collaborated on a jazz project with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. * ORQUESTA SABOR CUBANO CubanaDanza was created to perform and teach the wide variety of styles and genres of Cuban popular and folkloric dance. This group of professional dancers, mostly Cuban and all UK-based, are all well known within their field for performances of popular and/or In He has supported many of Cuba’s greatest musicians in concert in the UK and France. These include as ‘los Van Van’, ‘Pupy y los que son son’, ‘Maykel Blanco’, ‘Elito Reve’, ‘Sierra Maestra’, ‘Osvaldo Chacon’, ‘Paulito FG’, ‘Sur Caribe’, ‘Manolito Simonet y su trabuco’ y ‘Candido Fabre’. Better know as Dj Flecha he has been Djing for many years and has had an amazing DJ career, as well as Djing regularly in some of the most famous Cuban/Cuban-themed nightclubs in Europe such as Floridita (London, Dublin and Madrid), he has played up to 6 hours every night alternatively with many of the most famous Cuban bands, including Los Van Van, Charanga Habanera, Adalberto Álvarez, Manolito Y Su Trabuco, Paulo F.G, Pupi Y Los Que Son Son, Isaac Delgado and many more. His passion is making people dance and inspiring them with fantastic Cuban and Latin Energy, Dj Flecha is known for keeping the dancefloor buzzing and energised all night in any Club he plays.
Renowned Cuban film, theatre and television actress
* RAUL SPEEK
Cuban artist living in Wales
* OMAR PUENTE
http://omarpuente.com/
* REY CRESPO
Born in Havana to a mother who herself was a famous singer, Rey spent 10 years at Cuba's premiere music academies, studying composition, arrangement, guitar and bass. His emergence as a professional musician -bass virtuoso and bandleader- came via recording and performing
with great Cuban artists such as Omara Portuondo, Elena Burke, Cachao, sonero mayor Raul Planas and the legendary Ruben Gonzalez.
During this time he also worked with Peter Scott of Casino Sounds. In 1997 he re-located to London and participated in tours by major stars, including Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and Africando, he is an important member of well-known UK band Ska Cubano and eventually
formed his own band, Rey Crespo & his Cuban Ensemble . He is the musical director of the UK's new musical project Orquesta Sabor Cubano
* CUBAN COMBINATION
Cuban Combination is a 6 Piece band from the heartland of Cuban music to the UK, Cuban Combination was formed when some of London’s
best Latin musicians got together and decided to launch a band combining some of the finest talent from the UK and Cuba. Mixing traditional
skills and repertoire with bold musical innovation ‘Cuban Combination’ wants to get Britain dancing. Wherever you’re from their blend of soul, son, jazz, timba, rock and reggae will hook you in.
One of the most popular Cuban dancing music bands in the UK, their repertoire includes authentic and original compositions by Rene Alvarez Portuondo as well as some of the best known Cuban songs, including some from Buena Vista Social Club, which have been carefully written and selected by prestigious musicians and te beautyfull improvisation of the singers.
http://www.cubancombination.com/
* RUMBACHE
RumbAche was formed in London by Jorge Armando De Armas Sarria aka “Gerardo” . He is a Cuban Rumbero from Havana who was born
into a family that has produced notable names in the world of Afrocuban music, such as Amelia Pedroso and Ricardo Santa Cruz. Gerardo
has been a working musician all his adult life, singing and playing percussion in groups such as Irosso Oba (with which he recorded two
albums; ‘El Rey de Las Profundidades’ and ‘El Solar de La Rumba’); Columbia De Puerto; Danza Cuba, Rumbache, and finally with the world
famous rumba group Yoruba Andabo with which he travelled widely. Gerardo has lived and breathed rumba and Afrocuban music since birth.
He is omo Anya (child of Anya) which allows him to play the sacred batá drums in religious ceremonies to the orishas.
* CUBANADANZA
Cubacheche’s creation of CubanaDanza in 2009 was inspired by the love of dance evident in the large number of Cubans living in the UK,
especially in London, and their need for contact with the culture of their birth place. An additional incentive was the great interest in Cuban
dance and culture also shown by many non-Cubans.
Afro-Cuban dance.
http://cubanadanza.cubacheche.co.uk/
* LEANDRO 'CHARANGA' - ‘The Reggaeton King’
When he arrived in the
* DJ JAVIER 'La Maquina de Cuba'
Javier de la Rosa came to the UK 8 years ago from Havana Cuba, where he worked at the Castillito Cultural Centre and was involved in various musical activities. He has been DJ-ing in the UK since his arrival, playing Salsa and Timba Cubana, Reggaeton, latin Hip-Hop and R & B to suit the occasion. He was a finalist in the Bacardi’s DJ Competition at Havana, Hanover Square in 2003 and featured in iD :London magazine (October 2005 edition) as one of the UKs leading emerging acts in the urban latin music scene. He has been voted ‘best Cuban DJ’ in the UK at Cuba Uk’s International Cuban Salsa Congress, November 2006./7/8
http://www.djjavier.com/
* DJ 'FLECHA'
http://www.djflecha.com/
* DJ 'GREEN PAPI'
Since the late 70s and early 80s hip-hop has been part of my life. Back in ‘89 he was a choreographer and member of a B-Boy crew. Breaking the streets, participating in festivals, opening events and house parties was a daily thing. Listening to pirate stations, recording radio shows or exchanging tapes with amigos was the way people kept updated.
He moved to London in 1995 and he has been living here since, soaking up the city's multi-cultural scene into his Afro-Sponge. this background and experience gave him the ear, the vibe, the concept and the foundation to Rock.