Teachers & Performers

Special Guest Teachers, DJs & Performers

• Direct from Cuba - Ricardo Leyva & his 20 piece CUBAN Orquestra "Sur Caribe"
• Salsa Explosion Team "CUBA/UK"
• Moe Flex "UK"
• Iliana Cachon "CUBA"
• William Hernandez "CUBA"
• Etian Entuche "CUBA"
• David Martinez (OGUN) "CUBA"
• Sacha "FRANCE"
• Top Cuban DJ - Flecha "CUBA"

Ricardo Leyva & "Sur Caribe"

Sur Caribe will be Performing LIVE to Celebrate Enrique's 18 Years of teaching Cuban Salsa and Promoting Cuban culture in Bournemouth and all over the UK.

Ricardo Leyva was born in Santiago de Cuba in 1959.

Since he was a kid, he loved music but family traditions did not help him in his determination. His primary and secondary studies were in his homeland and, because of his family, he travelled to Havana to begin his professional life in the Navy Academy. He always wanted to be a musician so he became Norman Milanés’s pupil who, at that time, was the Director of the Navy Band, and received lessons in the prestigious Conservatory “Ignacio Piñeiro”.

His family was one again a motive of migration and he decided to return to Santiago; but this time he is a mature young guy with desires and inclinations and decided to devote himself completely to the music. In 1987, because his exceptional characteristics as musician he became Director of “El Conjunto Sur Caribe”.

The result of his work is in front of everyone. He has received rewards and prizes. For his human and interpretative qualities, he is distinguished son of Guama municipality in Santiago de Cuba where El Turquino, La Plata and El Uvero are located.

Their New CD "Horizonte proximo" the long-awaited album by Sur Caribe Orchestra (who just gained international fame with "Añoranza por la Conga")

"Horizonte próximo" is a great Album to dance and listen and really a new jump of quality in Sur Caribe´s musical work destined to an international panorama.

Leyva proposes atmospheres and sounds of extraordinary impact. He shows a rare ability to mix different genres such as conga, pop, salsa, bachata and a new "cubaton" (reggaeton mixed with conga) into one style, but keeping the trademark of Sur Caribe: high-powered Cuban rhythms, elegance and great harmonies.

The 14 trackses of the Album gather emblematic personalities of the Cuban Music: Juan Formell (first time ever singing without Frank Fernández, all those present in the song "Sí".

Also featuring: guitar player Elmer Ferrer ("Bonito Bonito", conga), singer Coco Freeman, Enrique Bonne and Elvis Manuel ("Ella y ustedes dos") last recording from the young reggaeton star, who disappeared last year.

It's hard to predict the best hits: the traditional conga "Arrollando por la ciudad", or "Bonito Bonito", (conga-pop), or "Donde mi cubana" (conga-house); or "Sí" (popular-symphonic) or the cubaton "Ella y ustedes dos", or the Cuban Son "Todo por el Son". Probably, the whole CD will be in absolute the new hit of the Cuban Music 2010. The album includes three video clips: "Arrollando por la ciudad", "Bonito Bonito" (recorded in London) and "Donde mi Cubana".