4. DONATIONS FOR DANCE ITEMS DELIVERED

 

Dear CubaCaribe community,
 
In December 2021 we launched “Donations for Dance,” instead of our usual end of year fundraising campaign solely benefitting CubaCaribe and in May 2023 we finally delivered those donations.
 
The idea came from Azucena Itule Ramos, as the covid pandemic took a greater toll on those in Cuba. The purpose was to give gently used dancewear to the artists who need it most: those living in the place of origin of our nonprofit, those who inspire, teach and create with us. Over the course of four months we collected gently used dance clothes, shoes, school supplies and money to distribute to dance schools, cultural centers and companies in Santiago de Cuba.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After sorting and packing, the boxes of donations were sent to Miami in April 2022, where they were re-sorted and packaged into plastic bags and new boxes and then shipped via boat to Havana. This process took many months. The boxes were then picked up in Havana, stored, picked up again and sent in large camiones (trucks) in multiple trips to Santiago—which turned out to be very tricky due to the island’s extreme transportation crisis and gasoline shortage! 
 
We chose Santiago de Cuba because it is more isolated than Havana and it is where Ramon, our artistic director, and many other Alayo dancers studied as children and got their start dancing in companies.

Once there, we re-sorted the donations and traveled to different parts of the city and countryside to deliver the items. It was a great honor to meet, talk with and witness the beautiful artists at each site.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

The sites included Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA), the National School of Art in Santiago (sister to La ENA, the National School of Art in Havana), which serves children ages 10-18 studying dance and music; four Casas de Cultura via Casa De Cultura Josue Pais Garcia, which are cultural centers that serve all ages; two professional dance companies, Danza del Caribe (Afro-Cuban Modern) and Cutumba (Afro-Cuban Folkloric), both with adult dancers and musicians; and a few local elementary schools in San Luis, a small rural town outside of Santiago.
 
It was also a full circle moment for Ramón, being able to give back something to the very places he lived and trained.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our donations were so warmly received and will be used and appreciated by many students and dancers. The experience was incredibly beautiful, moving and impactful for us and we feel energized to make collecting and giving an annual tradition.

So please check your closets and drawers and look for our announcement for new drop-off locations for our 2023 donation drive starting soon
 
Thank you, community, for your generosity and helping us support children and adults in great need. 

Con amor,
Jamaica, Azucena, Amy and Ramón