From my personal experience and exploration, Afro-Cuban dance and music are keys to opening ourselves to connection, community and joy. The rhythm has an innate connection to nature itself. These rhythms came from mother Africa and were brought to the new world like Cuba and Brazil, first via the slaves. These rhythms are now ever present in Australia because of practitioners who felt a deeper connection to either the music, dance or spirituality, and shared it with their communities.

Since 2012, I have hosted annual dance and drum retreats under the banner Afrekete – a word representing Ocean mother, coming from the Dahomey region of Nigeria and Benin. This retreat was co-created with two of Australia’s prominent Cuban dance artists and facilitators (Adrian Medina & Israel Ortiz) and brings people together from all over Australia to share in a weekend immersive experience in dance, song, drumming, culture and sharing together in an inclusive space.

If you feel like experiencing something that may transform you in the way you move, how you connect to yourself and to others around you, I’d love you to join us on our next weekend retreat on 23-25 May 2025 in the beautiful Magnetic Island, off the coast of Townsville, North Queensland, Australia.