Who we are
UNiDANZA is the Afro Cuban dance festival in Hamburg. For one weekend, we fill the city with workshops, bootcamps and parties. Above all, we celebrate Cuban dance, music and culture together with you. The next edition, UNiDANZA 2027, takes place from 12 to 14 February 2027 in Hamburg.
Behind the festival is the Verein für Tanz und Kultur in Hamburg e.V., a registered association based in Hamburg. Our team loves Cuban dance as much as you do, and we put that passion into every edition.
Our story
UNiDANZA did not start with today’s team. Luis Duarte took over the organisation from the festival’s previous team. From the start, he wanted to keep the essence that made UNiDANZA special. At the same time, he brought his own vision for the festival.
Today, Luis organises UNiDANZA together with Lara Bulka. Some artists have been with us for a long time, too. For example, Fredy Clan was already part of the very first UNiDANZA edition, together with Yorgenis Danger and more international cuban artists.
More than a festival
At UNiDANZA, we build a community around Cuban music and dance. We want a safe and welcoming space where people of all backgrounds connect, express themselves and celebrate Cuban culture. Through workshops, shows and time together, we want to share the joy of Cuban dance with you.
Music and dance
UNiDANZA covers Casino (Cuban salsa), rueda de casino, son, timba, rumba and Afro-Cuban dances. In other words, you dance the popular styles and also discover their Afro-Cuban roots.
Workshops and bootcamps
Cuban and international instructors teach the workshops, with levels from beginner to advanced. They know the roots of the dances and how to pass them on. In the bootcamps, moreover, you focus on one style with one instructor.
Parties
At night, our DJs keep the dance floor busy until late. In past editions, for instance, the weekend started with a warm-up party on Thursday. There were also party mottos like Gala Night and a second floor for son and cha-cha-chá.
The team behind UNiDANZA
Luis Duarte
Luis comes from Portugal and discovered Cuban dances at the age of 17. Along the way, he also explored ballet, capoeira and breakdance, which shaped his personal style. Today he teaches at festivals across Europe. In Hamburg, he runs his own dance school, A Bailar, dedicated to Cuban dance, music and culture. In his workshops, he also shares the theory and history of Afro-Cuban dances.
Lara Bulka
Lara’s love for dance started early and led her from ballroom to Cuban salsa and its cultural heritage. Since then, she has learned from great teachers around the world. In Barcelona, where she lived and taught, she danced with TIM MANANA, the 2022 Rueda de Casino World Champions. Now she is part of the International Company of Cuban Dances led by Leonardo Moya. At UNiDANZA, she manages the festival operations and also teaches.
UNiDANZA and Crazy 4 La Timba
Our team also organises Crazy 4 La Timba, a Cuban music and dance festival in Lisbon. Luis founded it in 2022 together with Lucio Davalos, known as DJ La Pantera. Since its second edition, Lara and Luis have organised it together.
Both festivals belong to Timbatribe, the group name for all events of our association. So if you love UNiDANZA, Lisbon might be your next dance trip!