Salsa is fun, salsa is caliente, salsa is

life and where else than in the country

where music and dance are

uppermost: CUBA

Whether you travel alone or with a partner, our

viaDanza dance school in Havana, Cuba

provides each participant with a private certified

dance partner. Under the guidance of our salsa

dance instructor you will teach the intricacies of

Cuban salsa. You will learn during our balanced

program new salsa figures, like lady styling and

you'll often join one of the best forms of salsa

dancing, the Rueda de Casino.

viaDanza Dance Travel to Cuba offers you the

ultimate pleasure of dance. For this, we have

compiled a travel program of salsa, beach, and

above all lots of music and dance for you. We

will take you to concerts of the most famous

Cuban Salsa / Timba bands and to the best

salsa venues in Havana / Trinidad and you will

always be guided by our dance partners so that

we can assure that you will have the time of

your life with us

We offer salsa dance classes for beginners,

intermediate and advanced.. At each level you

can enjoy this exciting dance. Besides salsa

dancing you will also be able to visit the

beautiful palm beaches in Cuba. We offer

various types of tours where you can enjoy

Havana and Trinidad.

The concept of viaDanza is that we combine

both culture and dance, and that we understand

what our customers want.

viaDanza organizes salsa dance holidays to

Cuba since the year 2000. Our experience in

Cuba and the fact that we have been able to

open a dance school as one of the first

Europeans in Havana make us unique. Our

dance school is situated in one of the most

beautiful areas of Havana next to Rio

Almendaris, this also the location of Club

Salseando Chévere, where every Wednesday

you can enjoy a wonderful evening filled with

authentic salsa music and dancing.

Salsa is more than a dance, it's a feeling. With

our own dance school in Havana and our

professional dance team, we will give you the

opportunity to experience the passionate Cuban

lifestyle and maybe adopt it into your daily life.

viaDanza is accessible to everyone, young and

old, with or without a partner, and from

beginners to advanced. For each participant,

there's a dance partner who will accompany you

during the lessons and many parties.

City of Havana

Travel and dancing with viaDanza means

that you deal with all facets of this

fascinating country

The culture, history, music, dance and the

current political situation makes Cuba a much

discussed and fascinating country. viaDanza

gives you all the space and freedom, outside the

classroom, to give your own interpretation to

your personal travel needs. We offer cultural

tours, but you are free to make other choices.

In short: víaDanza offers an unforgettable

journey consisting of four facets.

authenticity:

With víaDanza you will get to learn the country,

the people, the culture and the salsa. You will

get to know the inhabitants, you will talk and

dance with them and will experience the culture

with all your heart.

competence:

With víaDanza and its long experience with

traveling to Cuba, you will be assisted by

professionals with years of experience.

Salsa-hotspots:

With víaDanza you will only visit those places

where salsa is danced as, what we call, it’s been

cooked. You will travel to areas where the salsa

feeling is part of its roots.

Dream trip:

With víaDanza you will only travel to those

areas that are authentic. When you can imagine

yourself sitting in the sun on a terrace with an

Cuban cocktail while enjoying the sound of salsa

that seems to come from every building in the

city you will know you are at the right place

.

Because we organize group holidays we often

get the question if our trip is suitable for singles.

Our answer will be YES! We organize the trip,

we guide our customers and activities and we

can tell you a small secret: About 90% of all our

customers are people traveling without a

partner.

We not only offering you “Just sun, sea, and

beach” more than that we offer you an

unforgettable journey that will exists out of an

exciting, fascinating, beautiful and unforgettable

experience. We will let you experience the

salsa in a new

and original

perspective.

Only this way

víaDanza will be

full of excitement

and gives you the

great highlights of

this amazing and

beautiful country.

Our trips are filled with a variety of dances from

the Cuban culture but of course with salsa, lots

of salsa!

Cuban Salsa, which is characterized by

restrained steps, comes directly from an African

slave dance. In the 15th century Cuba was

colonized by Spain..

The original inhabitants, Indians, were not found

suitable for the heavy labour. This is when they

decided to get strong

black slaves from

Africa. During the

months of traveling

from Africa to Cuba the

slaves used to sing and

dance as hard as

possible to silence the

horrible and monstrous

sound of the sea and

also calm the super

natural forces which

they believed in. The feet of the slaves,

however, were shackled with iron rings so they

could make only small steps The result of these

retained steps are characteristic of the Cuban

salsa.

New York fifties: A new sound inspires the

people in the clubs

It all began in the fifties and sixties. Cuban

emigrants in moved to New York and brought

their music with them. Especially the Mambo,

Cha-cha-cha, Rumba and Son. Not long after

that the Puerto Ricans came to the Big Apple.

They too had their instruments and music which

is recognized as the sound of Plena, Bomba and

Pachanga.

It is inevitable that these two fluxes not long

afterwards merged into the nightclubs of New

York. At hotspots like "The house of Mambo"

and the legendary "Latin Quarter" the rhythms

mingled with influences of Cuba and Puerto

Rico, along with the music from Venezuela,

Colombia, Panama, and the North American

jazz.

The sauce is dripping

Soon this music was called salsa (sauce).

Named was givenby the legendary Willie Colón

who was contracted by the record company "La

Fania". It is believed that the name recognition

has come from the “Son” hits "Échenle salsita

Salsa “en “todo el mundo"

From the beginning the victory laps. The salsa

conquers North America first and then all of

Latin America. Then it crossed the ocean to

Europe and then on to what is left of the world.

From Honolulu to Vladivostok, from Cape Town

to Helsinki: Millions of supporters dance onto,

hear and enjoy the world of this peculiar music.

The salsa lives

Since then, the Salsa has come a long way.

New Salsa styles emerge, new dance directions

are added. It is strange that there is almost no

other music and dance, with so many facets,

styles and trends, such as salsa exists!

Small history of Cuban salsa

Salsa has different dance styles. "free style

dance" Salsa is still evolving and will continue to

innovate.

The dance is based on non-verbal

communication such as body language, eye

contact, and music. Below is a description of

some Cuban dance styles.

Danzon

Danzon is an older (20th century) Cuban dance

style. It is performed by an elegant couple

dancing. This dance is a 100% Cuban and you

could say the first step to the salsa. The music

originally is only instrumental, no vocals.

Son

The son developed roundabout the same period

as the danzon in places that were know as Casa

de la Trova and originated in the east of Cuba,

mainly Santiago de Cuba.

This kind of music is known worldwide because

of one of the most famous groups “Buena vista

social club” The Son is considered the

grandmother of the salsa.

Mambo & Cha Cha Cha

In the 50's, a for that time very modern form of

dance is the Mambo. The dance is especially

popular in Mexico. while also arose the Cha Cha

Cha, which made the typical movements of the

Cubans world famous.

Cuban style salsa

At the end of the 50's in the neighbourhood El

Casino Deportivo, Havana, a severe young and

urban dance style, characterized by dancing

creative figures with the partner developed. The

salsa was born! Because of it’s origin the Cuban

name for salsa is Casino. Casino is loved by

several generations and is still being danced. It

is the basic dance for Rueda de Casino and is

currently a popular dance among the young.

The salsa was taken to the USA by the Cuban

musicians who emigrated. Besides Son and the

Casino there are also styles and rhythms from,

among others, Puerto Rico, Venezuela,

Colombia, Panama, Dominican Republic and

Latin Jazz from the U.S.

Santaria: a hidden religion in Cuba

Santaria, Catholicism in an African jacket

During te time of slavery Catholics Spaniards

forbid the worshipping of Yorubas and their

African gods, the Orisha's. Under pressure of

their masters the slaves acted as if they turned

to Catholicism but in reality every Catholic saint

were silently renamed to one of the many Orisha

gods. In this way the slaves were able to

celebrate, in secret, their own religious festivals

and worship their own gods. This way the spirit

of their gods, their religion could not be caught

and thus survived all the horrors of slavery.

*Santaria, Orisha’s explained

There are more than 400 known Orisha’s but in

Cuba they worship around 20 of them. Every

Orisha has its own symbol, own colours which

can be found in many Yoruba accessories like

necklaces and bracelets, and music and dance

rhythms. Wondering around the streets of

Havana you will see many shops containing

atributs for rituals like sea shells, coco nuts,

cups, candles, herbs and coloured necklaces.

Santaria, religion and lifestyle, dedication

to Santero

The dedication to Santero requires the

necessary preparation. In order to determine the

Orisha of the believer the ”babalao'', the highest

priest of Santeria religion throws palm nuts on a

wooden board and depending on the position of

the nuts the babalao knows which Orisha to

appoit to the new Santero. After this the focus

will be on cleaning the interior. Following a

ceremony the head of the initiate is to be

shaved, and the body is completely enveloped

in a white dress. The white dress, a symbol of

cleanliness and purity should be worn for a

whole year. After this year a final initiation rite

will take place. During this ritual, future Santero

is blocked for seven days from the outside

world. During this period they are accompanied

and cared for by a babalao and his assistants.

While already initiated Santeros fueled by

compelling drumroll singing loudly calling their

Orisha depletes the future Santero will get into a

trance. The Orisha creeps into the body of the

initiate and will be present during the ceremony

in this way. To propitiate the Orisha's there will

slaughter goats and chickens. The Orisha will

put a life path in front of the initiate and on the

basis of this decision receives the new Santero

be presented a set of rules which must be lived

by the of his life These rules imposed from

above are individual and can range from not

eating chocolate or corn to never misuse water

by swimming in rivers and seas. After initiation,

they may call themselves Santero or Santera.

The Santero will also get to hear whether he will

ever have the power to become a babalao, a

highpriest. For women, the priesthood is not an

option.

Santero, financial bloodletting

The rituals of Santeria in practice are quite

expensive. Initiation to santero or Santera can

cost up to 15,000 pesos. The babalao and his

assistants should be provided with many and

expensive food and drink. The Orisha can be

very greedy and demanding and ask for many

sacrifices. When you consider that a Cuban

average wage is not more than 300 pesos per

month it is understandable that a decision to be

Santero is a decision that you take with the

whole family because without their support, it is

an impossible thing to do. But also for advice

about, for example money matters, health and

relationships can a request to a babalao be very

expensive.

When you want more information about this

Afro-Cuban religion we advise you to visit when

in Havana:

Casa Africa – Havana vieja

Museo de los Orisha’s – Havana vieja

Calejon de Hamel – Havana Centro

At the Callejon de Hamel the play every Sunday

Rumba music and are birthdays of Orishas

celebrated. Entrance is free.

During your trip you can always ask us for more

information about this Cuban religion.

Trinidad

Our trip FROM DAY TO DAY

After all the information about this amazing

country, we like to bring you back to our salsa

dance holiday to Cuba. The program covers the

following trip HAVANA & TRINIDAD. In our

Havana pure (15 hours) and travel plus (24

lessons) program you will stay in the wonderful

city Havana

21 hours classes

Havana Pure is the base of all our dance

holidays in Cuba. In week 1 you will have a

intensive dance course at our dance school in

Havana. In the 2nd week you will have the

choice to spend time in Trinidad or to stay in

Havana. The last 3 days we will all be back in

Havana, where we will spend the next 2 days at

the dance school to get it truly right and end the

trip with a big Fiesta Cubana.

Day one: Arrival at Havana

Arrival in Havana and transport to your hotel

Day two: Start dance classes and for

every participant an own dance partner.

In the morning we start off with an welcome

drink and a short explanation of the dance

program. After this you will get a short tour

through Havana Vieja (the old town) mainly to

show you where you can find the important

shops and the bank. In the afternoon the real

dance program will start. The team of viaDanza

will give you demonstrations of dance styles and

tell you about the history of the Cuban music

and dance. Afterwards every participant will be

appointed an level of experience in salsa and

you now will get your own dance partner. The

first lesson will start with rhythm and dance

classes.

Day three; Lessons at the dance school

in Havana

After breakfast you will go to the dance school in

Havana where you will participate the lessons

from 10:00 am till 1:00 pm.

In the afternoon you can bring a visit to the

“Castilla de la Fuarza”. This Castilla is the oldest

fortress of Havana. Here you can look at the

famous statue “La Geraldina”. This female

figure is the symbol of Havana. You probable

recognise her from the Havana Club rum label.

Day four: A visit to the rum museum and

a salsa matinee

In the morning you start off with your daily three

hours dance classes. Afterwards you can join

one of the tours through the rum museum at

Havana. In the afternoon it is possible to join

the group to visit a salsa matinee at one of the

Casa de la Musica”.If you decide to do

something different this day, we like to suggest

a stroll at the “Malecon”, also known as the

boulevard of passion.

Day five and six: The dance floors of the

sparkling nightlife of Havana

Good morning!

First you will start off with another three hours of

Salsa classes. In the afternoon you have some

free time on your hands. We suggest you could

go to the nearby beach “Playa del Este”. This is

day four of your salsa trip, and you are now able

to enjoy the rich nightlife of Havana. The team

of viaDanza will keep you informed of the daily

agenda concerning salsa and dancing. Of

course when there are enough participants,

viaDanza will arrange a taxi and dance partners

to join you at the nightlife in Havana.

Day seven: On our way to Trinidad

You had a few wonderful days in Havana, but

today is the day that we take the air-conditioned

shuttle bus to Trinidad. On the way to Trinidad

you can enjoy the wonderful view of the Cuban

landscape and absorb the beautiful nature. After

arrival in Trinidad we take you to your

accommodation. The rest of the day is your, you

will have still enough time to explore this

sparkling city that was added to the world

heritage list of Unesco in 1988.

Day eight: Enjoy and explore Trinidad

and its surroundings

Because Trinidad is surrounded by many

cultural and natural places you could go to the

“Toppes de Collantes” 775 meters high, and

about an hour’s drive from Trinidad city.You can

make a beautiful walk through the misty forest

that leads you to the waterfall “Salto del

Caburni”.

In the evening you can enjoy the lively

atmosphere of the inner-city with many bands

that play at the Plaza de Mayor.

Day nine & ten: Trinidad

Trinidad has many interesting museums that are

definitely worth visiting. Or you can just walk

around the old city with its cob stones that was

once named the "Pirate City" because this was

the home to many pirates. A few centuries later

the city belonged to the sugar lords because of

the many sugar cane plantings. Many of the

pirate and sugar lord houses are restored and

look like you are still in this exciting era.

You could also visit Cuba's biggest church the

cathedral "Iglesia Parriquial de la Santisma

Trinidad or have a visit to the “Valle de los

Ingenios” where you will find numbers of ruins of

sugar factories. There is also a 44 meter high

watch tower where they used to keep an eye on

all the slaves that worked the field. We have to

warn you that this tower is not suitable for

people that are afraid of heights.

Once you have climbed the tower you will have

a magnificent view of Trinidad and its

surroundings.

Another thing you could do is to take a (coco)

taxi to the closest beach " Playa de Ancon". This

is relaxing on its best!

Whatever you decide to do these few days, you

will not get bored!

Day eleven: Adiós Trinidad and Buenos

dias Havana

Today you arrive back in Havana " The grand

lady of the Caribbean". The rhythm of the city

will once again feel like magic. We definitely will

let you enjoy this magic and take you out for a

evening tour and let you enjoy another

Caribbean night.

Day twelve:

In the morning you will have another salsa

lesson and you will get all the space to perfect

your salsa figures.

In the afternoon you are free to 'yet again'

explore Havana city and visit all those places

that you have not seen yet (and believe us you

are still not able to see all that Havana has to

offer).

Day thirteen: Farewell party at the Finca

Salsa, salsa and yet again salsa!

we will take you by bus to the countryside where

you will enjoy a day full of Music, dance and

when you wish a dive in the pool. You will be

served a typical Creole barbeque.

In the evening you will go back to Havana. At

this Point you will say goodbye to the viaDanza

crew.

Day fourteen: Last day in the city of

Havana and back home again

Today is all yours. You can enjoy the city of

Havana for the last time. Maybe buy those last

souvenirs to take home or have a city trip in one

of the tourist busses going around Havana.

Later this day your transport will arrive to take

you to the airport.

At this moment it is "Goodbye Havana"

We, the team of viaDanza, hope you had a

joyous trip and hope to see you again!.

Havana

Hotels in Cuba

viaDanza is extremely selective in choosing

hotels and Casa particulares. We have selected

the best hotels in their class for you. These

hotels are in our standard package. If you prefer

another hotel we can offer them too.

Hotels in Old Havana (Havana Vieja)

Hotel Valencia ***(1)

Formerly owned by someone of the council (in

the 18th century),

today it is a very

stylish small

middle class

hotel. The

exceptional style

of the hotel has

drawn for years

many artists and

writers.

Characterising for

the hotel is the

ideal position,

exactly between the two most imposing squares

of Havana, "Plaza the San Francisco" and

"Plaza the Armas". The hotel lies in the middle

of the old centre of the capital, directly beside

hostal el Commendador, Shops, historical

construction work and museums are within

walking distance.

Facilities:

Small reception, that serves also the reception

for hostal el Commendador. The hotel has 2

bars, among other things "bar Nostalgia", where

mainly typical Cuban music from the 50s is

played by live-musicians, A tobacco shop where

Cuba's finest cigars are sold and Spanish

speciality restaurant "La paella". The restaurant

has successively won for the past two years the

main price at the international paella's Contest in

Spain.

Accommodation: The hostel exists from 12

very well looked after chambers, which are

around a small and sociable promenade with

plants and seats. The chambers are stylishly

arranged, very coloured and provided with

bath/shower, mini bar, safe and TV. The

chambers have no air-conditioning.

Special: The cocktail of the house: ' White

Sheets ' is a real must

Other hotels in old Havana (Havana

Vieja)

Raquel ****(4) Old Havana

A stunning work of architecture, the Raquel

contrasts dramatically with its not-so-

picturesque surroundings, a rather humble

residential area whose one, redeeming virtue is

its proximity to the Plaza Vieja and other sites of

interest in the Old Town.

The hotel’s ornate and eclectic facade is well

matched by the interiors, which are likely to

make a powerful first impression: shining marble

floors, polished columns and posh period sofas

surround you in

the kind of palatial

luxury you might

expect to find in a

presidential

mansion or high-

class art museum.

The most striking

feature of this

grand lobby is

doubtless the

curved fanlight

which crowns a

high atrium past

the reception

desk, which lets in soothing tones of yellow and

draws many glances skyward.

This "lavishness" is not the only delightful

peculiarity which sets the hotel apart from others

in the Old Town. The Raquel is also known for

its references to Jewish tradition and faith, which

consist of various decorative items

El Tejadillo ***(2)

In the middle of old Havana, near a cathedral

you will find this small and sociable hotel . The

institution is

colonial style and

the original style

of this hotel has

been preserved.

The beautiful

chambers look out

at the green patios

Position:

This hotel lies in a quiet part of Havana vieja

(the old city) In the surroundings of this hotel

you will find a lot of shops, bars and restaurants

facilities:

32 chambers

Shop

Internet Café (against payment)

2 patio’s

Accommodation:

There are 15 rooms with double bed and 15

double rooms with single beds. All rooms have a

bathroom/shower, tel. and a satellite/cable

television further a kitchenette, mini bar,

magnetron, two persons - or king-size bed, air

conditioning, rental-safe and a balcony or

terrace.

Florida **** (2)

1st class hotel. Build in 1836 and was inhabited

till 1885 by a business man.

Position:

When you enter the hotel you find the small

reception. At the promenade you see several

arcs and several seats. Florida has two bar's.

Bar "Florida" and the piano bar "Maragato".Hotel

Florida has a cafeteria “Las Columnas” and a

restaurant "La Floridana". Also you find a

souvenir shop and an excursion counter in the

hotel. In the immediacy of the hotel there are

parking places.

Accommodation:

The hotel has 25 beautiful chambers and suites

all arranged

with a

colonial

character.

The

chambers

have two 1-

person

beds or 2-

person

beds, and air conditioning, Cable-tv, tel., safe,

mini bar, room service, small terrace or balcony.

Bathroom with bath/shower, toilet, bidet and hair

drier. Some chambers have connection doors.

The 4 suites are identically arranged and have

an extra space with television, seat and sofa

bed

Special:

Guest will get a welcome cocktail and also get

10% discount in the restaurants of other

Habaguanex hotels.

Casa Particular

If you really want to know , we can tell you that

a "Casa Particular" is an ideal accommodation

to experience among the Cubans.

Accommodation:

a Cuban version of a bed and breakfast

(pension). Often it is a room in someone's home,

but it could also be that the whole house is

subleased. The advantage of staying in a "Casa

Particular" is that you actually experience Cuba

and i

ts

inhabitants.

The rooms are very good and you will be

welcomed like you are coming home. The host /

hostess will make you feel completely at home

and you have the same advantages as in a

hotel. Every day a clean room and a key to the

house so that you can decide when you come

home (that's the feeling).

Details: Cubans are allowed with permission to

sublet a room to tourists. ViaDanza Casa

particulares are all located in the old town

(Havana Vieja) and close to the bars,

restaurants, shops and other entertainment

venues.

The rooms are very well maintained. There is

also the possibility to order diner (often asked in

the morning) and stay in your own comfortable

environment. Often there is lobster on the menu,

but of course you must indicate which meal you

eat and most like to eat.

Afterwards every participant will get a certificate of viaDanza

NOS VEMOS EN CUBA!

(See you in Cuba)

We hope that you have become enthusiastic

about what the country Cuba and especially

Havana and Trinidad has to offer after reading

the information on our dance holidays And of

course that what connects people "SALSA"

viaDanza has years of experience in organizing

salsa dance holidays. This is what makes our

tours unique. We only work with the best

organizers and accommodations. Quality is our

main focus not quantity.

If you want to know more about us and our

dance holidays (including prices) please visit our

website www.viadanza.nl (just click on the

English button for your information)

Feel free to contact us, without any obligation,

for further information at

dansreizen@viadanza.nl or just phone us or

send us a text message and we will get back to

you within 24 hours 00 31 (0)624368975

We really want to tell you more about our

holidays.

That is the reason we say: NOS VEMOS!

Team viaDanza,

Karen en Minou

colophon

viaDanza dance holidays / Spirit of

Havana

Karen Beerends & Minou Spits

Klaprozenweg 94

1032 KX Amsterdam

k.v.k. 34238563 0000 (Chamber of commerce)

Registered in Amsterdam

E-mail: mailto:dansreizen@viadanza.nl

Homepage: http://www.viadanza.nl

Telephone: 00 31 (0)624368975

viaDanza Head quarter

Helena Gomes Bernardo en Ulrich Fichtner

OHG

Am Glockengarten 23

73733 Esslingen

Tel: +49 711/48907003

Fax: +49 711/48907004

E-Mail: mailto:tanzreisen@viadanza.de

Homepage: http://www.viadanza.com

Club Salseando Chévere

Pedro Rodriguez Diaz

http://www.salseandochevere.com

Photos/Copyright: Minou Spits

Homepage: http://www.fotografieminou.nl

Front page by: Ingolf Pompe

Homepage: http://www.ingolfpompe.de