Schedule for Saturday 31.10.
11.15–12.30 Rumba columbia, open level (solo)
12.30–13.45 Rumba guaguancó, improvers (solo)
14.00–15.15 Couple salsa con rumba, intermediate
Teacher: Geordanis Figuerola Medina
Place: Flama Rauhankatu (Rauhankatu 15, Turku)
Price: 23 € / 75 min workshop or 60 € for the full package (3 × 75-minute workshops).
The solo classes are suitable for dancers with some previous experience in Cuban dance styles. The couple class is intended for dancers who have a solid foundation in couple salsa.
Practising rumba develops musicality, coordination, and body control, while also bringing greater depth to salsa and other Afro-Cuban dances.
Rumba Columbia is an energetic and rhythmically challenging Cuban dance style originating from the Matanzas region of Cuba. Traditionally performed as a men’s solo dance, it is now danced by people of all genders. The dance is characterized by fast footwork, improvisation, and a dynamic dialogue between the dancer and the drum rhythms—especially the quinto drum.
In this workshop, you’ll explore the fundamentals of Rumba Columbia, including its basic technique, movement dynamics, body movement, and the way dancers interpret the music and develop their own expression. We’ll practise rhythms, movements, and the dance’s powerful, playful energy in a safe and encouraging atmosphere.
Cuban rumba is a traditional music and dance style and cultural form that originated in Cuba in the 19th century among the descendants of African slaves and the lower white social class. Rumba Guaguancó is one of the three main styles of Cuban Rumba (Yambu, Guaguancó, and Columbia). It combines sexual tension, rhythmic intelligence, and Afro-Cuban identity. It is a flirtatious and playful dance that also includes a symbolic “approach” between partners, known as vacunao (vaccination).
The Couple Salsa with Rumba class combines Cuban rumba with partner salsa, teaching you how to incorporate rumba into partner dancing. Guaguancó, the best-known and most popular style of Cuban rumba, is a flirtatious and playful partner dance featuring the symbolic vacunao (“vaccination”)—a playful gesture representing an attempt to approach or seduce one’s partner.
Geordanis “Yoyo” Figuerola Medina is a professional Cuban dancer and musician from Santiago de Cuba, the birthplace of son, the musical tradition that gave rise to salsa. He has extensive expertise in Cuban dance styles, ranging from Afro-Cuban folklore to contemporary popular dances such as reggaeton, with Cuban rumba holding a special place in his heart. He has performed with renowned professional companies including Rumberos de Cuba and Siete Potencias. As a teacher, he aims to share not only dance technique but, above all, the joy of dancing and a deep connection to the music.
More information: info@flama.fi
Autumn is full of dancing! 🍂 Flama’s autumn season will be danced from August 24 to December 13 and the schedule has now been published. There will once again be a diverse range of dance and body care classes for both beginners and those who have been practicing for a long time. Welcome to Flama! 🧡
What better way to spend a hot summer evening than at an energetic salsa party? Dance Studio Flama, in collaboration with Naantali’s Kaivohuone, is hosting the most unforgettable dance night of the summer in the seaside setting of Naantali’s Old Town!
