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Waltzers, fox-trotters, and swing dancers need not apply. With so many other dances to learn, those American jives won’t be missed one bit at the IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance and Music Festival, which runs today through Sunday, July 16, and is unique to South Florida. Consider yourself lucky to be surrounded by the likes of Neri Torres, a Cuban choreographer and award-winning dancer who, along with her dance company, has worked with Gloria Estefan, Willy Chirino, and Andy Garcia through her nonprofit IFE-ILE. “The festival is an artistic effort to unite the many Latin American communities that coexist in our area and [to] reach out to the Anglo community that has recently embraced the Latino culture, particularly in terms of song and dance,” Torres says. Now in its seventh year, the event will host numerous parties, dance and music workshops, performances, and discussions, with highlights including a dance gala on Saturday premiering Son Cubanos, a performance by IFE-ILE’s Afro-Cuban Dance Ensemble. Registration fees range from $15 to $210. Most of the activities will take place at the Arts and Minds Center, but visit www.ife-ile.org for a complete schedule.
July 13-16
