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Damarys Farres performing

About Damarys Farres

The passion and force behind The Cuban School of Arts

Damarys Farrés is the Director and sole founder of The Cuban School of Arts. Official Ambassador of Son Cubano in UK and  Cuban Dance and  Culture. 

Damarys is a knowledgable passionate dancer, choreographer, teacher, promoter and researcher of the Cuban and Afro-Cuban culture dance forms and rhythms. These include Salsa, Son, Rumba, Yoruba, Bantu, Arara and Reggaeton among other genres.

She was the first female Cuban artist to provide structured Cuban dance rhythm courses in the UK. She was the first solo Cuban Artist to organise independent Cuban cultural events involving Cuban artists in the UK.

Her passion for her culture and Cuban dance, especially traditional and Afro-Cuban dance, are her main motive for founding The Cuban School of Arts - The Home of Cuban Culture and Arts in the UK.

"Damarys is a unique dancer, who captures the soul and spirit of Cuba in her dancing"

"Damarys affects everybody with her vital energy, passion and happiness!"

Experience

  • BBC Collaborations: Curator, choreographer, and performer in programs such as Auf Wiedersehen Pet, The Hour, and The Armstrong & Miller Show.

  • Dance & Choreography:

    • Choreographer and principal batta dancer for Ayanfe: The Yoruba Opera.

    • Co-choreographer of Ayanfe, a Yoruba Opera.

    • Guest teacher at the Acosta Foundation.

    • Choreographed the repertoire for the vocal group Catharsis.

  • Event Creation & Organisation:

    • Founder of CUBA in Brighton Salsa & Afro-Cuban Dance & Music Festival.

    • Creator of Puro Sabor Cubano Master Dance & Music Cultural Workshops.

    • Founder of Goddess Project: Mindfulness, Dance, and Wellbeing.

    • Organiser of AseiLe.

  • Teaching & Cultural Promotion:

    • Worked with Grupo Ocha to promote Afro-Cuban dance.

    • Curated and interpreted Afro-Cuban courses for foreigners in collaboration with The Conjunto Folklorico Nacional and Danza Nacional de Cuba.

  • Recognition & Leadership:

    • Nominated as a dance judge in festivals and congresses.

    • Has participated, taught, organised, danced, and choreographed alongside top Cuban dancers, teachers, musicians, and promoters in the UK and abroad.

Damarys Farres Performing in Ashe Ile, Ashe Expresso

Style

Damarys is highly acclaimed in UK as well as worldwide for her charisma and her infectious energy. She is renowned for her knowledge and passion for the Cuban and Afro-Cuban culture, dance forms and her femininity. She has a unique dancing style, choreography, artistic direction and teaching, which owes much to her broad background in dance. This includes classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, reggaetton, traditional and popular Cuban styles, folk dances, as well as other Latin, modern and Afro-Cuban dances.

Damarys continues integrating her work at every trip to Cuba. She takes her experiences and promotes them everywhere she goes.  Her passion and love for Cuban culture and all kinds of dance are manifested in everything she does.

Qualifications

  • Graduated at the National Ballet School in Havana, Cuba

  • Completed a course in Art Management at UNEAC in Havana

  • UK Cuban Salsa Champion

  • UKA qualified licensed dance teacher 

  • BA (Hon) Dance Studies

  • Member of ADAD and Dance-UK

  • Best female Cuban dancer and teacher in the UK nomination

  • Crowned the Queen of Rumba and Afro-Cuban dances

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