Jazz and Culture in Havana is the place to be this December from December 18-26, 2012. Plaza Cuba is doing a Jazz and Culture in Havana program, which is a rich and highly interactive people-to- people exploration that focuses on Cuba’s music- and dance-centric culture with an emphasis on jazz.
Cuba is a place like no other. With few influences from the outside world, Cubans have forged an idiosyncratic, vibrant culture out of humble ingredients. It’s a place where the rhythmic tapping of two spoons sets a party in motion, where schools with meager supplies produce world-class artists, athletes and doctors.
Cubans are a warm and friendly people. They approach life with a dramatic flair and an ability to laugh, even in the most difficult times. Their passion is visible, not only on the Malecón where intertwined couples line the seawall, but also in the heartfelt way they dance, play music and participate in sports. They are fierce competitors and have a particular zeal for baseball, which stems from its powerful history as a symbol of national identity.
The island pulsates with some of the best music in the world—an exhilarating fusion of Spanish and African sounds, modern and traditional influences. In the capitol city of Havana, a young crop of talented artists and musicians is challenging social and creative boundaries and adding new layers of complexity to Cuba’s culture.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
