Ramón Ramos Alayo was selected by the Cuban government to study dance in Santiago de Cuba at age eleven. In 1990 he earned a masters degree in contemporary and folkloric dance and dance education from the Havana's National School of Art. Romón is a graduate of Havana’s National School of Art, specializing in folkloric and contemporary dance. He was a principal dancer with several prominent Cuban dance companies, including Danza del Caribe, Narcisco Medina Contemporary Dance Company, touring throughout Europe, Belize, and Canada. His success continued after relocating to the U.S. in 1997; he has performed as a dancer with numerous outstanding companies, including Robert Henry Johnson, Kim Epifano, Sara Shelton Mann, Zaccho Dance Theatre and Robert Moses’ Kin. Ramon currently teaches Cuban popular dance, Afro-Cuban modern dance and children's movement at several local dance studios and schools. 

He is respected throughout the Bay Area as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and the founder and artistic director and choreographer of Alayo Dance Company (2002) and CubaCaribe (2003).  As director and choreographer, his work is an innovative fusion of Afro-Cuban modern, folkloric and popular Cuban Dance. He eloquently articulates his aesthetic vision through a synthesis of these dance styles, citing from each traditions, movements, narratives and concepts indicative of Cuban culture.

Alain Amilicar Soto Aguilera was born in Santiago de Cuba. His passion of dance comes from a strong artistic family tradition. He began his dance education at EVA (Escuela Vocasional de Arte) in Santiago de Cuba school at 11 years old. Throughout his education, he obtained various awards. In 1994 he was accepted into Havana’s National School of Art where he studied Ballet, Cuban popular, modern, and he specialized in Folkloric dance. During this time he participated in many different festivals. He also studied at Escuela Instructores de Arte where he mastered the Cuban Cabaret style. In 1998 he became one of the principal dancers in Ban Rarra, one of the most prestigious folkloric dance companies in Cuba. The company highlights traditional dance forms originating in Eastern Cuba, such as Afro-Cuban Haitian.

During his artistic career, he also performed in a variety of theatrical plays on the National television of Cuba, modeled clothing for, Brutus, a Japanese magazine and starred in “The History of Lady Salsa”, a music and dance production, which toured throughout Europe. In 2001, Alain came to the USA on tour with Ban Rarra where they performed in various universities and theaters. Since moving to California, Alain has danced with Arenas Dance Company, Patakin, Raices Cubanas, SF Carnival and Timba All Stars. He has taught Cuban Popular dance at Mission Cultural Center, Mission Blue Theater, YMCA Embarcadero and Dance Mission Theater. This is his third season with Alayo Dance Company.

Bio coming soon...