Yesenia Selier Fernandez
AFRO-CUBAN INSTRUCTOR
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Yesenia Selier Fernandez hails from Havana, Cuba and for over 17 years she has studied all aspects of Afro Cuban dance, music, and cultural expressions. She works with dancers of all levels and genres—from complete beginners to some of the top dancers in the salsa industry. She is known for her passionate interpretations of traditional dances, and for helping individuals improve their natural body movement and their understanding of musicality and timing. She shares with her students the secrets to capturing that elusive “Cuban ability” to FEEL the music and then share that energy with your partner. She is also a popular lecturer on the history of music and dance from the African Diaspora--from the original roots to today's salsa, hip hop and world music sounds. Her current research is focusing on the ways that the detailed rhythms, movements, patterns and "story-lines" evolved from Orisha, Warrior & Fertility Dances into Rumba & Son, and from there on to Mambo, Cha Cha Cha and today's Salsa.
From Santeria to Salsa:
Orishas like Yemaya, Oshun and Shango and Santos like San Lazaro and Santa Barbara are frequently referred to in salsa songs. Their drum rhythms or "toques" form the base of salsa music, their body movement and personal characteristics have formed our vision of what we look for in a dancer, and many popular salsa shines are actually interpretations of ancient Orisha dances. This course focus on Orishas dances, the sensual, fluid motions and intricate patterns of their traditional dances, and experiencing first-hand how they evolved into the salsa we know and love.
From Palo to Rumba:
Palo and Congo moves and patterns are present today in every popular dance, and are basic for glamorous moves of rumba and salsa. They brought us: the rich torso moves, the most sensual hips out of the fertility dances, double counting’s, and different body accents. Get the basic technique and drills and the fundamentals of the "cuban or contra-body motion" through Palo & Rumba moves in this special workshop.
