As the only ensemble on the West Coast devoted to danzón, the insuperably elegant and foundational 19^th century Afro-Cuban style, Orquesta La Moderna Tradición is a charanga orchestra with strings, woodwinds and percussion that delivers driving and gracefully interlocking Afro-Cuban rhythms. Stocked with some of the finest musicians on the scene, La Moderna Tradición is directed by violinist Tregar Otton and percussion maestro Michael Spiro. While rooted in the dance music that coalesced in the final years of Spain’s dominion over Cuba, the band is also fluent in the sweeping boleros, surging salsa, and fierce timba grooves of recent decades.

Direct from Santiago, Cuba, the Compañia All Stars has struck the perfect balance of honoring tradition while experimenting within the rich genre of Cuban social dance. The ensemble has toured Europe, Mexico, and the U.S., and is now making its first West Coast appearance, hosted by Rueda Con Ritmo.