Ase-ilé Afro-Caribbean – Latin Lab Rooted in Heritage, Raised in Rhythm

Ase-ilé 2025 – Afro-Cuban & Afro-Caribbean Dance Lab

A Journey Through Heritage, Rhythm & Identity

9th–13th October 2025 | London

About the Event

Ase-ilé is our flagship annual cultural immersion, a unique and transformative programme dedicated to exploring the depth and beauty of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean traditions. Created and led by internationally respected Cuban artist and educator Damarys Farres, Ase-ilé blends dance, music, history, and storytelling into one powerful and joyful celebration of cultural identity.

This is not just a workshop—it is a living, breathing experience of ancestral knowledge, spiritual connection, and personal growth through movement.

With only 7 places remaining, we encourage dancers, artists, and cultural enthusiasts to secure their space early. Priority is given to those joining the full programme. If spaces remain, we will open individual day workshops at a later stage.

👉 Find out more and register now

Programme Overview

Evening Sessions

• Thursday 9th, Friday 10th, Monday 13th & Tuesday 14th October

• Time: 7:30PM – 9:30PM

• Includes technique, choreography, and musicality

• Join us for a casual drink and community chat after class when possible

Weekend Intensives

• Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th October

• Time: 11:30AM – 4:30PM

• Includes two dance sessions and a 1-hour cultural seminar over lunch

• (Please bring your own meal and feel free to stay with us for discussion and reflection during the break)

Limited Spaces – Personalised Learning

To ensure high-quality, individualised attention, we intentionally keep class sizes small. Only a few places remain for 2025, so early registration is essential.

We have added an extra session on Tuesday 14th October, which is not included in the Full Pass and is specifically designed for male dancers. However, women are welcome to join the Columbia workshop (though unfortunately not the Abakuá session).

All workshops have limited capacity to ensure every participant receives dedicated guidance and attention.

Secure Your Place

Visit the link below for full programme details, guest artist announcements, and registration:

👉 www.cubanschool.co.uk/events/festivals/ase-ile

We look forward to welcoming you into the Ase-ilé family—where every movement is a memory, and every rhythm tells a story.

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Damarys Farres , Creator of Ase-ile Lab

Cuban dancer, choreographer, cultural educator & artistic director

Havana-born | London-based

Damarys Farres is the powerhouse behind The Cuban School of Arts, internationally recognised for blending deep cultural research with dynamic dance training. A graduate of Cuba’s National Ballet School, Damarys brings a rich foundation in Afro-Cuban, folkloric, and popular Cuban dance—from Yoruba and Rumba to Son Cubano and Reggaeton—into her work as an artist, educator, and curator.

She is the first Cuban-born woman to create and run Cuban cultural festivals in the UK without sponsorship, including:

• CUBAinBrighton (UK’s first independent Cuban cultural festival)

• El Son Cubano Festival (the UK’s first festival dedicated solely to Son Cubano)

• Puro Sabor Cubano Master Workshops

She is also the founder of Ase-iLe Lab, a unique training space exploring Afro-Cuban dance traditions and orisha knowledge for all, through both embodied practice and cultural context.

Choreography & Teaching Highlights:

• Co-choreographer, Ayanfe: A Yoruba Opera

• Guest teacher, Acosta Foundation

• Collaborations with BBC, Grupo Ocha, Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba

• Creator of UK’s first structured Cuban dance rhythm courses

Damarys’s work goes beyond movement—it is rooted in cultural depth, community empowerment, and the celebration of Cuba’s living traditions.

📎 Full Bio & CV

✨ Learn more about the event ✨ 2025 | Schedule

✨ 2025 | Meet Our Artists. Our Family

✨ 2025 | General Programme ✨ Become a Volunteer (Coming Soon)