Cuba: Mentors and teachers

Two of my main teachers are Cuban and living in Havana – Emilito del Monte Mata (Cubanismo, Robert Fonseca, Alexis Bosch, Alex Cuba)

Emilito del Monte and Tobin — One of my mentors — the amazing Babalawo & Percussionist Emilito del Monte Mata at his home in Luyano, Havana 2012

and Duniesky Barreto (Pupy y Los Que Son Son; Bamboleo).

Duniesky Barreto and Tobin — My Timba Teacher Duniesky (Duni “El Cuba”) Barreto of Pupy y Los Que Son Son and Bamboleo, Havana 2014

Alisbey and Tobin, Cuba, 2011, — My folkloric teacher Alisbey of Grupo Folklorico Cutumba, Santiago, Cuba 2011

I have also studied with members of the Ballet Folklorico Nacional de Cuba, Clave y Guaguanco, Rumberos de Cuba, Cutumba, and Grupo Afro-Cuba de Matanzas. Of those groups, I spent the majority of my time studying with Mikael Ramon and Alisbey of Cutumba, and Ernesto Gato Gatell and Lucumi of Rumberos de Cuba.

Next in Cuba: Early trips: 1997-2000 >>