Artistic & Cultural Consultants

Laura Rebolloso is a composer, educator, and performer of the Mexican leona and jarana from the state of Veracruz. She began studying music at age 9 under the guidance of Gonzalo Camacho and completed a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education at the Universidad Veracruzana and as well as a Master’s degree in Education, with an emphasis in son jarocho. She currently lives in Xalapa, Veracruz but regularly travels throughout Mexico, the United States, and Europe. She has made and recorded and produced several original compositions with her most recent production being “Sones y canciones para reverdecer” which was produced by Felipe Fournier in N.Y. In 2016 Cirque de Soleil included her piece “La Lucha” for its production LUZIA.

Susana Arenas Pedroso is an internationally recognized Cuban Folkloric and popular (i.e. social) dancer. Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Ms Pedroso began her career in dance at age twelve, studying at La Casa de Cultura de Matanzas and at Cojunto Folklorico Nacional in Havana. She danced professionally for seventeen years in Cuba with popular, folkloric and theatrical performing groups, including Tierra Virgen, Alafia Ire, Oche Olorun, Oriki, Clave y Guaguancó, Oba Wemilere, Rumberos de Cuba, and Raíces Profundas. Since her arrival in the United States in 1998, Ms Pedroso has performed and choreographed numerous pieces that have been exhibited throughout the United States, Mexico, Cuba and Hong Kong with companies such as Omo Ache, Omo Oddara, Ban Rarra, Ire Ile, Alayo Dance Company, Las Que Son Son and Obini Ashe.

Born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, Tania Santiago grew up in the heart of African-influenced Brazil. She has taught, danced, and choreographed for the most well known companies in Brazil. Tania has also extensively studied other forms of dance such as Jazz, Ballet, West African, Afro-Cuban, and Modern dance. She spent six years working with Olodum, a highly respected and internationally acknowledged Bloco Afro in Brazil. Tania also choreographed and performed for Olodum on television, at concerts, and at music festivals. Since 1997 Tania has been teaching classes and giving workshops in California, New York, Hawaii, Florida, and Vancouver, Canada. She has been an artist in residence at various school programs in San Francisco as well as a featured teacher at the Brazil Camp in Northern California.