{dropcap}C{/dropcap}uban folkloric dances of African and Hispanic antecedents, as well as the magic of the sound of the instruments of our recognized percussion can be learned during the International Folk Laboratory in Havana, FolKCuba 2011, in its summer edition. The lessons will extend from July 4-16, at the headquarters of the “Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba (CFN) (National Folkloric Group of Cuba).

Since 1985, this prestigious company organizes these laboratories delivered by its most outstanding figures. In this 52nd edition of FolKCuba, its participants will be able to learn Yoruba and Congo dances of Arara origin; popular Cuban dances such as   cha-cha-cha, pilon, mozambique, ‘son’, conga; as well as rumba and its expressions: yambu, guaguanco and columbia, among other subjects that will bring them closer to musical and dance expressions of our identity.

They will also receive percussion lessons, with incursions into the famous Bata, Yoruba drums, and g?iros, as well as into the percussion instruments used in rumba, conga, congo bantu: palo, yuka, makuta. Songs of Yoruba origin will be delivered in singing specialty.

Registrations will begin right on July 4, from 10:00 am, at the headquarters of the CFN, located on Calle 4 e/ Calzada y Quinta, in

Havana’s Vedado district.

The CFN, which organizes these International Laboratories for over twenty-five years, is a genuine expression of the cultural diversity we inherited. For more than four decades of history, its members have shown the best dance and musical traditions of this archipelago all over the world.

Its repertoire reflects the diverse Cuban cultural roots, as much those of European origin as the African ones and those from other Caribbean islands. Hispanic and French influences, as well as yoruba, congo, carabali and arara ones, brought to this Caribbean land by African slaves since 16th century can be appreciated in the creations of that music-dance ensemble with a particular emphasis.

International Folk Laboratory in Havana “FolkCuba 2011” has two editions annually, one in winter, which always begins in the third Monday of January and another in the summer, which traditionally opens in the first Monday of July. The two last fifteen days and mean a meeting with one of the cultural roots of the Cuban thing.ra como única difusora de la música de concierto en la Isla.