Sponsors & Artist
SPECIAL THANKS
Julio Hung
Julio Hong was born in Havana in 1975, where he absorbed the rich dance traditions of Cuba since childhood. After completing the core dance curriculum in International dance, Latin American Folkloric Dance, and Popular Cuban dance, he earned a Diploma in Classical Ballet from the National School of Arts (ENA). In 1994, Julio Hong earned a Masters degree in Dramaturgy and Theatre from the Superior Institution of Art (ISA) in Cuba.
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Julio has now transitioned to a new phase of his career. He combines a lifetime of formal dance training and experience to create his personal choreographic signature. Julio has developed an interest in how his choreographies are informed by his personal history and heritage. He wishes to expand that journey by making connections with Canadians of diverse backgrounds, philosophy and culture to see how the Arts can improve our well-being.
Ontario Arts Council
Thank you to our sponsor, OAC, for their dedicated and committed support.
Cuban born Mr. Carret is an award-winning choreographer and principal dancer who has created more than 60 original works. He was as principal dancer and choreographer at Danza Espiral from Matanzas, Cuba,and performed many renowned Cuban choreographers’ works such as Narciso Medina’s piece “Metamorphosis”, a Cuban modern classic. He has created choreographies for the International Ballet competitions in Cuba and for the Youth America Grand Prix international competition (2018) held in Canada. Many of his awarded works are still part of the repertoire of several companies such as Danza Libre,Danza Fragmentada from Guantanamo,Cuba and Ballet Creole Canada, among others. As a principal dancer he toured in Spain, Canada, Martinica,Saint Kitts & Nevis and Guadalupe. Mr Carret performed at the International Ballet Festival in Cuba and one his awarded piece “Invernal” was danced at a special gala in which a Dance Award was given to Prima Ballerina Absoluta Alicia Alonso. Mr Carret received many awards that were given by prestigious dance artists in Cuba such as : Narciso Medina ,Clara Luz Rodriguez, Isidro Leonardo Rolando Thondike and Ramiro Guerra among others.
Born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, Arsenio started Classical Ballet at age 7 and subsequently decided to become a Modern Dancer. After years of study and performance, he was invited in
1995 to Jamaica to join the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica (NDTC), under the artistic direction of Professor Rex Nettleford. Arsenio has toured with the NDTC to the United
States, Canada and the Caribbean. He has also choreographed major works for the Company – “Congo Laye” and “Dimensions”, performed on international tours, “Fusion”, “Footprints”, “My
Prayer”; in 2007, “Out of Many” and in 2008, “Asi Somos” and “Intervalos”. He was also a member of Danza Teatro del Caribe, Cuba, where his work “My Prayer” was mounted and
remains in their active repertoire. He was invited to choreograph for the Opening Ceremony of the ICC and the Cricket World Cup in 2007. A natural exponent of the dances of his Cuban
heritage, Arsenio also teaches and performs the social dance forms – salsa and meringue.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Yuhala began her training at the age of 4 at the National School of Rhythmic Gymnastics. In 1997 she auditioned for the National School of Arts in Havana where she began her formal dance training. After 6 years of training she obtained her BFA in Dance.
In 2002 she joined the Folklorico National of Cuba as a dancer where she participated in various dance seasons and touring, and she performed in numerous dance festivals and workshops lead by international teachers such as Santiago Alfonzo Director of Tropicana de Cuba, and Alberto Mendez, Choreographer and teacher of the National Ballet of Cuba. In 2005 Yuhala joined Ballet Creole’s Professional Training Program and two years later was invited to join the company.
As a senior company member of Ballet Creole she has had the opportunity to perform works from Patrick Parson, Gabby Kamino, Milton Myers, Zelma Badu, M’Bemba Bangoura, Jose Carret and Debbie Wilson .Yuhala is also been invited to work with Newton Moraes Dance Theatre and Akwaba Cultural Exchange.
Guest panelist, Barbara graduated from the Cuban National School of Art in 1989, and began her dance career in the newly founded Teatro de la Danza del Caribe, under the Artistic direction of the Maestro Eduardo Rivero Walker.
A very versatile and expressive dancer, she won the title of Prima Ballerina, and also became a highly respected teacher, receiving her title as a Maestro awarded by the Cuban Council of Arts.
She worked as Deputy Director of the School of Dance at the Performing Arts School of Santiago de Cuba up until 2003, when she began her collaborative work Movements Dance Company of Jamaica. Parallel to her teaching job at the School of Arts she taught classes, led rehearsal and choreographed new works for Danza del Caribe.
Following Maestro Rivero’s passing in 2012 she was named General and Artistic Director of Teatro de la Danza del Caribe.
Guest speaker, Marieta Mesa Rojas is a Teacher in the mention Dance of formative processes for the teaching of Art, at the University of the Arts, Havana, Cuba. Graduated in Folk Dance from the ISA University of the Arts, Santiago de Cuba Branch. She graduated from the National School of Dancer-Teacher of Modern and Folk Dance in Havana, Cuba. She is also a Professor and professional choreographer and from the Professional School of Art of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. I have directed the Dance departments at the Professional Dance School (elementary and middle level) and the Folk Dance Department at the University of the Arts, both in Santiago de Cuba. General and Artistic Director of the Folklorica Kokoyé company until the departure in April 2021 to Saudi Arabia. Coordinator of the Cuban and Caribbean Dance and Percussion Workshop, in order to specify a space for practice, debate, dissemination, learning, reflection and exchange of experiences in dance-musical creation, with the task of marketing from her own avant-garde artistic scene, the popular Cuban and Caribbean essences exchanging cultures and traditions with the mission of feeling and making dance and percussion felt. Proposal presented at the Caribbean Festival held in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. As of 2021, she was officially appointed International Coordinator of the Casa del Caribe.