Join us in Santiago de Cuba, the undisputed home of traditional Cuban music, for a heady cocktail of Cuban dance classes, survival Spanish lessons, accompanied nights out to the best live music venues in town and cultural visits and excursions to explore the local sights, lush countryside and nearby beaches.

We run this two week trip serveral times per year with a special Carnival trip in July and a trekking option in the second week of at least one trip per year.

All dance tuition is provided by professional dancers from the Ballet Folklorico Cutumba, one of Cuba’s most famous dance and music companies, and each participant has their own Cuban professional dance partner for every class. Spanish lessons are taken in small groups or on a one to one basis with professionally qualified and experienced Cuban teachers and the Pico Turquino trek is accompanied by our fully qualified, bilingual specialist guides.

Click on one of the followng proposed 2008/09 trips for more information:

Christmas/ New Year trip, 20 Dec 2008 -3 Jan

New Year trip with trekking option, 27 Dec -10 Jan

Carnival trip, 15-29 July 2009

Christmas/ New Year trip

20 Dec 2008 -3 Jan 2009

Sat 20 Dec
0855: Check in for Cubana flight at London Gatwick airport, South terminal.
1155: Departure for Holguin on direct flight (approx. 9 hours)
1645: Arrival Holguin and transfer to Santiago de Cuba by coach (approx. 2 hours). Transfer to homestay accommodation and light supper.

Sun 21
1030: Group briefing meeting and short orientation walk around city centre
Afternoon: Free time to relax or go swimming at local hotel pool/beach
Evening: Meet after dinner for welcome cocktail

Mon 22
Morning: Dance classes 0930-1230
Afternoon: City tour and visit to El Morro for the sunset cannon ceremony
Evening: Meet for group night out for dance/live music

Tues 23
Morning: Dance classes 0930-1230
Afternoon: Survival Spanish classes x 2 hours (first of 3 afternoon sessions) or 1:1 individual dance lesson x 1 hour
Evening: Group night out for dance/ music

Wed 24 CHRISTMAS EVE
Morning: Dance classes 0930 -1230
Afternoon: Half day visit to place of local interest in/near Santiago
Evening: Free evening

Thurs 25 CHRISTMAS DAY
Full day beach trip with lunch, drinks and transport included

Fri 26
Morning: Dance classes 0930-1230
Afternoon: Survival Spanish classes x 2 hours (2nd of 3 afternoon sessions) or 1:1 individual dance lesson x 1 hour
Evening: Night out for dance/music

Sat 27

morning: Dance classes 0930-1230. Rest of day free and night out for music/dance

Sun 28 Full day excursion outside Santiago with transport and entries included (not lunch or drinks)

Mon 29
Morning: Dance classes 0930-1230
Afternoon: Free afternoon
Evening: Night out for dance/music

Tues 30
Morning: Dance classes 0930-1230
Afternoon: Survival Spanish classes x 2 hours (third of 3 afternoon sessions) or 1:1 individual dance lesson
Evening: Free evening

Wed 31 New Years Eve
Morning: Dance classes 0930-1230
Afternoon: Free afternoon
Evening: New Years celebrations and concert in Parque Cespedes. Caledonia party afterwards

Thurs 01
Free day to explore and relax
Evening: Final night out with the group

Fri 02
0700: Transfer to airport for flight to Havana departing Santiago at 0935
1110: Arrive Havana and transfer to city centre. Free afternoon to explore Old Havana and craft markets until transfer at 1600 to airport.
1945: Depart for overnight flight to London Gatwick

Sat 03
0930: Arrive London Gatwick

New Year trip with trekking option

27 Dec 2008 - 10 Jan 2009

Sat 27 Dec
1000: Check in for Cubana flight at London Gatwick airport, South terminal.
1300: Departure for Holguin on direct flight
1745: Arrival in Holguin and transfer to Santiago de Cuba by coach (approx. 2 hours). Transfer to homestay accommodation and light supper.

Sun 28
Morning: Briefing meeting and short orientation city tour
Afternoon: Free to relax and explore the city or go to local swimming pool
Evening: Meet after dinner for welcome cocktail

Mon 29
Morning: Dance classes 0930 -1230
Afternoon:  City tour and visit to El Morro at the mouth of the bay for the sunset cannon ceremony
Evening:  Night out for dance/music

Tues 30
Morning: Dance classes 0930 -1230
Afternoon: Survival Spanish classes x 2 hours (first of 3 afternoon sessions) or 1:1 individual dance/music lesson x 1 hour
Evening: Free evening

Wed 31   New Years Eve
Morning: Dance classes 0930 -1230
Afternoon: Free afternoon
Evening: New Years celebrations and concert in Parque Cespedes. Caledonia party afterwards

Thurs 01 Jan   New Years Day
Morning: Free day
Evening: Free evening

Fri 02
Morning: Dance classes 0930-1300
Afternoon: Spanish classes x 2 hours (second of 3 afternoon sessions) or 1 individual dance/music lesson x 1 hour
Evening: Night out to dance/live music

Sat 03
Morning: Dance classes 0930-1300
Evening: Night out to dance/live music

Sun 04
Full day excursion outside Santiago to the mountains/beach

Mon 05 *TREKKING OPTION AVAILABLE
Morning: Dance classes 0930 -1230
Afternoon: Free afternoon
Evening: Night out for dance/music

Tues 06 *TREKKING OPTION AVAILABLE
Morning: Dance classes 0930-1300
Afternoon: Spanish classes x 2 hours (second of 3 afternoon sessions) or 1 individual dance/music lesson x 1 hour
Evening: Free evening

Wed 07 *TREKKING OPTION AVAILABLE
Morning: Dance classes 0930 -1230
Afternoon: Free afternoon
Evening: Final night out in Santiago with group

Thurs 08
0700:  transfer to airport for flight to Havana departing Santiago at 0935
1130: Arrive Havana and transfer to hotel.   Free afternoon.
Evening:  Optional final night out in Havana with group

Fri 09
Morning: Free day in Havana. Optional walking tour of Old Havana (CUC$10)
1600: Tranfer to airport. for overnight flight to London Gatwick departing 1945

Sat 10
0930: Arrive London Gatwick

*Trekking option subject to a minimum of 4 people

Mon 05

Morning departure for Santo Domingo with lunch stop in Bayamo (lunch not included). Afternoon check in to 3* Villa Santo Domingo hotel, twin rooms. Walk along the river to visit sites relevant to the Revolution. Dinner and free evening

Tues 06

Morning transfer by truck/jeep to visit La Comandancia and La Platica community with guide. Picnic lunch. Dinner and overnight in the La Platica refuge.

Wed 07

Guided hike around La Platica. Picnic lunch. Afternoon transfer to Santo Domingo and return to Santiago de Cuba. Final night out in Santiago with rest of group.

Carnival trip

15-29 July 2009

Witness Cuba's biggest Carnival Parade and dance with professional performers!

The main festival of the year in Cuba is without doubt the annual Carnival in Santiago de Cuba. A week of intense colour, activity, dancing in the streets, live music and fabulous costumes brings the city alive every July and the evening parade each night along Garzon Avenue is a must-see.

In 2007, for the first time, we had the opportunity to perform a fully choreographed routine in the Carnival parade with professional artistes from Ballet Folklorico Cutumba, one of Cuba's top dance and music companies. In 2008, Santiago Carnival celebrated its 50th anniversary making it a very special year for our dance trip participants. In 2009 we will be celebrating 10 years of running our Cuban dance holidays in Santiago de Cuba so this year is to be even more special. A packed itinerary during the hottest carnival in the Caribbean with some special 10 year anniversary surprises along the way!

We will have 8 days of lessons with tutors from the Ballet Folklorico Cutumba, one of the top dance/music companies in Cuba, and will be out every night to live street concerts and events taking place in the carnival areas. We will also arrange some special afternoon visits and workshops e.g. in 2008 we had a specially arranged visit to see one of the most famous local Conga groups preparing for carnival, as well as a visit to a costumes workshop.

All levels are welcome from beginners to advanced for dance and percussion classes. If you prefer to take more Spanish or percussion instead of dance please let us know.

Proposed itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at Holguin airport, transfer to Santiago de Cuba and homestay accommodation. Single room, half board x 12 nights. Dinner and evening free

Day 2

Morning briefing meeting and orientation walk of central Santiago. Afternoon free to relax. Meet in evening after dinner for welcome cocktail and live music.

Days 3-7

Morning classes x 3 hours (son and salsa), with 2 afternoons of survival Spanish or percussion lessons and 2 afternoon visits to a carnival workshop/conga rehearsal and place of local interest. Accompanied evenings out to live music venues/clubs.

Day 8

Full day trip outside of Santiago including transport.

Day 9

Free day for carnival events and activities

Days 10-12

Morning classes x 3 hours (son and salsa) with 1 afternoon of survival Spanish or percussion lesson. Nights out to Carnival concerts and main street procession.

Day 13

Daytime flight to Havana, check into hotel, twin room with breakfast, and free afternoon to explore the city. Last night out with group.

Day 14

Optional guided walking tour of Old Havana and visit to craft markets. Late afternoon transfer to airport for overnight flight back to UK.

More information on our Group Dance Holidays...