Afro Cuban Roots: Dances of the Deities at St Mark Hope and Peace Lutheran Church ELCA – Kansas City, MO

Afro Cuban Roots: Dances of the Deities

Over the decades, the island of Cuba has given us many social rhythms and dances, such as the cha-cha-cha, bolero, mambo, salsa, and more. Additionally, numerous sacred dances have evolved from the spiritual tradition of Lucumí, better known as Santería.

With its roots in Nigeria, this religion is based on the interplay of a pantheon of deities associated with natural phenomena such as thunder and lightning, rivers, and oceans, as well as human attributes. These deities, properly known as orishas, express themselves through distinctive dance movements and imagery. Performed to specific rhythms, these dances reveal the true nature of Cuban culture and its African roots.

Our instructor, Selah Thompson, well-versed in West African dance, has studied and performed Cuban orisha dances for many years. Come join us for this one-of-a-kind dance experience! Live drumming will be provided by Soundz of Africa.