As part of our CUBAN DANCE series, we bring you to an Afro-Cuban dance rehearsal featuring world-renowned folklore group, Raíces Profundas. We caught up with Raíces Profundas in their rehearsal space and were able to capture these special moments with some of our favorite dancers in Havana, practicing Orisha dances for Eleguá and Yemayá. This is what work looks like every day as a professional dancer in Cuba. PlazaCUBA has been working with Raíces Profundas for more than 20 years. Company members teach in our dance programs and are an integral part of our tours. Our Cuba travelers get to know these talented dancers in daily classes and also get to see the group in live performances “going off” and doing what they do best. Raíces Profundas was founded in 1975 by revered teacher and historian, Juan de Dios Ramos Morejón. Juan de Dios was one of the founding members of the Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba where he was a principal dancer, percussionist, singer, choreographer and teacher. Raíces Profundas was under Juan’s direction for more than 40 years and today is widely regarded as one of the world’s most authentic performing ensembles in the Yoruba tradition. The dancers and musicians have intense dedication to their company, their art and their Culture. The Company is now under the direction of Juan de Dios’s niece, and former principal dancer in the company, Ildolidia Ramos, with choreography by Emilio Hernandez. Gracias al grupo, Idolidia y Emilio por tantos años de colaboración.