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 12 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 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 numbers small. Only a few places remain for 2025, and early registration is essential.

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.

Let me know if you'd like a shorter social media version, a Mailchimp-compatible email version, or translated content for a bilingual audience.

------------

Guest Artist – Aseile Training 2025

9–13 October | London

Sergio Antonio Larrinaga

Sergio Antonio Larrinaga is a renowned Cuban dancer, choreographer, and teacher, with over three decades of experience in Afro-Cuban and folkloric dance.

He has worked with some of Cuba’s most important cultural institutions, including:

• Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba (soloist & choreographer)

• University of Havana Folkloric Ensemble (artistic director)

• Teatro Variedades América, Havana (teacher & choreographer)

• Yoruba Andabo (artistic director)

• Italian Federation of Professional Dance (instructor)

• International competition judge

This October marks his first time in London with DCuban School of Arts. A long-time colleague and cultural ally, Sergio joins Aseile 2025 as one of our lead teachers, bringing unmatched knowledge and energy to this year’s training.

------------

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