IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance & Music Festival Instructors

Alegria (Leandro Silva)

A native of Salvador, Bahia, Leandro Silva (Alegria) began his career in capoeira and Afro-Brazilian dances at the age of 13. He has been part of several international groups including Dance Brazil and Orquestra Popula de Bahia. Currently, he has been developing his own style of dance, where he mixes capoeira with modern and contemporary dances. As a choreographer, Alegria showcased his work through studios and dance companies as well as for Brazil's famous singer Daniella Mercury. He toured the U.S. and performed with the Brazarte Dance Company of Miami, FL. He has also performed with Cleo Parker Robinson's Dance Ensemble in Denver, Colorado.

Ana Cabrera (Yuka/Makuta, Son/Mambo)

Ana Gloria Cabrera was born in La Havana, Cuba. At a very early age she auditioned for the National School of the Arts and was accepted in the National School of Dance Instructors. She joined a team of Danza performers and worked in the most important theaters including Teatro America, Teatro Nacional and Cabaret Tropicana, famous for its Cuban style. Ana has traveled throughout Europe and many countries in South America and Mexico, where she started teaching "CUBALLET" classes and had many presentations in the national auditorium. Following her very successful career in Mexico, Ana arrived in the U.S. to do what she loves most: teaching others and showing the world her Cuban roots!

Yofvani Gonzalez (Orishas, Rumba Columbia, Arará)

Yofvani Gonzalez graduated form both Escuela Nacional de Artes and Instituto Superior de Artes in Havana, Cuba in Afro-Cuban Dance and Music. Founder of Oche, the first Afro-Cuban dance Company in Villa Clara, Cuba in 1996, Yofvani was also member of the renowned Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba where he worked for over a year. In addition, he participated in several festivals and dance competitions both national and internationally.

After fulfilling a contract with the University of Monterrey Campus, Guadalajara, he relocated to Miami in 2005, the year he joined IFE-ILE Dance Company.

Manno Merisier (Haitian)

Emmanuel (Manno) Merisier one of the leading dancers/choreographers of Haitian folkloric dance in the U.S., with over twenty years experience. Born in Haiti, he was a dancer and choreographer of Haiti's National Troupe. He has also been a dancer and choreographer for Troupe Vivian Gauthier, Katherine Dunham, Navilare William, Sosyete Koukouv, Ayabonmbe Music Corp., Ayizan Kreyol and PAN.

Yanitzia Mizrahi (Orishas, Congo, Son, Rumba Yambu)

Yanitzia Mizrahi graduated from Havana's Escuela Nacional de Instructores de Artes in 1989, specializing in dance instruction and performance. Currently she is an instructor of Afro-Cuban dance, Salsa, and Cuban traditional dances for several dance institutions and venues in Italy. Her repertoire includes work with Oscar de Leon, El Canario, the late Celia Cruz, Albita Rodriguez, Roselyn Sanchez and the new Andy Garcia movie, "The Lost City."

Janete Silva

Janete Silva started dance studies in 1995 in her hometown of Salvador, Bahia, working with choreographer Itamar Arapiraca as a member of his company Danceatro and as an assistant to the choreographer. From 1999 to 2003, she performed with various local and international companies such as Bale Folclorico da Bahia, Amen Santos Dance Group Bahia Brasil of Los Angeles, Orquestra Popular da Bahia, Emilia Biancardi, Jelon Vieira and Dance Brazil, and Freddick Bratcher and Company (contemporary dance group). Janete currently teaches Afro-Brazilian and Samba at Miami-Dade College, samba at Mangueira Capoeira Martial Arts, and samba at the Energy Fitness Center in Miami, FL.

Ezequiel Torres (Batá Drumming)

Cuban-born Ezequiel Torres is one of the most renowned batá drummers and batá drum craftsmen in the U.S. He performs at religious and traditional celebrations, festivals and events throughout the world (Spain, Trinidad, Mexico, Puerto Rico, etc.), playing batá, agbé (guiro), cajón and Yesá. As an Omó Añá and Olubatá, he can play and has made consecrated bata drums. He specializes in making batás, congas, chekerés, cajones and the beautiful beaded tapestries that "dress" the batá.

He has conducted workshops at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and was a curator, consultant and exhibitor for the Historical Museum of Southern Florida's exhibits, At the Crossroads, Afro-Cuban Orisha Arts and Caribbean Percussion Traditions in Miami, where his batá drums were on display. He learned the complex tradition of batá drumming and Orisha chanting in Havana, Cuba, from legendary Afro-Cuban griots of these Afro-Cuban cultural traditions. Ezequiel was also featured in the 1995 film "The Perez Family," along with the late Celia Cruz.

Festival participants may be able to arrange additional private or group lessons with Ezequiel during their stay in Miami. Please contact us for more details.

Learn more at his Web site.

Neri Torres (Timba, Orishas)

Award-winning choreographer Neri Torres is the founder and director of IFE-ILE and the annual Afro-Cuban dance and music festival. Born in Havana, Cuba, Neri defected to the U.S. in 1991 and turned her passion for dance and cultural advocacy into a successful career spanning more than twenty years.

Trained in jazz, ballet, modern, and Afro-Cuban dance, Torres has choreographed, written, directed and performed numerous shows (from musicals, movies, commercials to videos) before thousands of captivated and enthralled audiences.

Neri is a leader in Miami's arts and culture community, whose numerous awards include a Proclamation by the City of Miami and a Fellowship and Certificate of Artistic Merit from the State of Florida. She is also a cultural ambassador, who has performed in nearly every continent in the world and in dozens of countries, where we has choreographed, written and performed in numerous shows.

Trained in jazz, ballet, modern, contemporary and Afro-Cuban dance, Torres is a graduate of Havana’s Instituto Superior de Artes where she majored in choreography. She has toured with and been the principal dancer and choreographer for Gloria Estefan.