Washington, D.C.: Stages, Neighborhoods and Classrooms

Dance Place: Our Creative Home

Our resident-company relationship with Dance Place brings regular classes, rehearsals, Cuban dance socials, original productions and guest artists into one creative home in Northeast Washington. The teaching relationship began around 2006 and continues through our work with students, audiences and visiting Cuban artists.

Somos Cubanos brought DC Casineros and Compañía All Stars Santiago de Cuba together on March 6, 2015. The 2017 All Stars residency connected master classes with a collaborative production. Bailando con Juan Formell y Los Van Van, presented November 3–4, 2018, joined choreography, music, narration and documentary interviews.

Explore our Dance Place partnership, 2005–2026 · Watch our productions

Cultural Institutions and Public Performances

• Kennedy Center · 2018 and 2019: a children’s workshop on May 12, 2018 and the following day’s public Artes de Cuba presentation; performance and interactive teaching during the REACH opening celebrations in September 2019. Our teaching history also includes Dance Sanctuaries.
• Arena Stage · 2015 and 2019: social dancing connected with Destiny of Desire and classes and performance at the theater’s 70th-anniversary Community Day.
• Smithsonian · March 2015: shared dancing with All Stars during the visiting company’s Washington exchange, including a Rueda de Casino in the Haupt Garden.
• Folger Shakespeare Library · July 26, 2024: Cuban dance demonstrations and lessons before Gerardo Contino’s band. Explore the Folger’s Cuban Dance and Music Night.
• National Gallery of Art · September 22, 2024: Cuban-charanga social dance as part of Ceylon Mitchell’s Raíces Negras concert.
• Library of Congress · December 12, 2024: the Cuban-dance finale to the celebration of Meg Medina’s tenure as National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

Explore our Kennedy Center youth and family teaching · Watch the regional performance archive

Neighborhood Festivals and School Programs

Adams Morgan Day, Mount Pleasant Day, the 2013 Cherry Blossom Festival, Columbia Heights gatherings and Art on 8th are part of our local history. These settings bring Cuban dance into streets, parks and neighborhood celebrations.

Our school work includes Bell Multicultural High School/CHEC, Wilson High School, DC Bilingual and Mundo Verde. Around 2006–2008, Amanda Gill developed youth Rueda de Casino at CHEC. In January 2020, Amanda and Adrian taught a Mundo Verde workshop through Dance Place. We also share performance and lecture-demonstrations with university communities, including George Washington, Georgetown and the University of the District of Columbia.

Explore youth and school programs · Visit the Art on 8th archive

Maryland: Social Dancing, Festivals and Learning Together

Glen Echo Park

Our recurring Cuban dance events in Glen Echo Park’s Spanish Ballroom bring together company dancers, students, friends, children and parents. Lessons and social dancing create a place to practice, meet new partners and share the music across generations. Naomi Washington-Roque and Amanda Gill lead our children’s and family teaching at Glen Echo.

Explore Glen Echo socials · Find current dates and tickets

Baltimore: Company Performances and Festival Classes

Baltimore is part of our regional performance and teaching story. Company dancers have shared the stage at Baltimore dance festivals, while our instructors have taught Son and Casino through festival workshops. These classes bring the wider company, students and visiting dancers together.

Watch Adrian and Naomi’s Cuban Son class in Baltimore · 2024 · Explore our regular classes

Strathmore and School Outreach

On January 31, 2020, DC Casineros offered preconcert dance instruction and presentation connected with Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All Stars at Strathmore. Our Maryland educational history also includes Sandy Spring Friends School.

Virginia: Young Audiences and University Communities

Wolf Trap

On July 25, 2017, DC Casineros presented The History of Cuban Popular Dance at Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods. Performance and participation introduced young audiences and families to Cuban dance traditions.

George Mason and Northern Virginia Teaching

Our local educational work includes George Mason University and St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School. Company instructors also contribute to the region’s university dance communities. Evan Kreiensieck teaches with George Mason’s Azúcar Latin Dance Club, and Paul Cassens brings university teaching and dance-club experience to the company’s educational work.

Meet Evan and find Azúcar class links · Meet our dancers and instructors

Learn With Us Across the Region

Our teaching connects regular practice with performance and cultural understanding. At Dance Place, students can study Afro-Cuban dance, beginning Rueda de Casino and intermediate/advanced Casino partnerwork. Schools, universities and local organizations can arrange workshops, performances or programs that combine both.

Classes and registration · Youth and family programs · History lectures and demonstrations

Our Community page brings together socials, family activities, music and neighborhood participation. Here, our Local Work portfolio follows the company’s performances, teaching and collaborations across D.C., Maryland and Virginia.