We had the good fortune of connecting with Kati Hernandez and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kati, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Coming from a place of resilience, I created Oricha dance Therapy, a pioneering Cuban dance, music and art program. Available In Studios around the country and Online worldwide. Enriching our people through dance, giving them the opportunity to be part of a joyful endless celebration of my Cuban Culture as a reflection of resilience, empowerment and healing. I created this program not only to do my practice, but also because helping my community through my craft is a lifetime project of mine. I emphatically wanted to offer a new tool, a new language of expression through movements of the rich Afro-Cuban dance diaspora. I recognized how important it was to be aware of what is happening around us in society. This platform gives the students the space to be vulnerable, and regroup to keep going or to transform and be ok. I like the idea of giving people space to be artivists without it being a channel for anger, but instead to do it in the most peaceful, powerful way possible. My dance classes and social events created around the program open the path to a sweet space where participants can find a community without judgment so they can reconnect to society after going through hard times like divorce, or injury or isolation like with the covid pandemic. We get through hard times using the medicine of dancing to the sound of the sacred drums, the power of our voices with traditional songs, reawakening the tradition of storytelling. Reconnecting to our roots.
Aside from the dance workshops and lectures. Highlighting the talent of members of our community is part of our practice. Creating a channel of network and financial support. At this Marketplace at Afro-Cuban dance therapy students sell their crafts or talk about services they offer that goes from learning about wine to how to gain financial literacy and the importance of teaching kids to save money and even to start their own businesses.
Alongside my dance company Kimbambula Cuban dance and Music Ensemble we run a campaign “ Help us to help others” with the objective to help those in need in different sectors in our community. This March we did canned food benefiting children. Creating awareness about the horrifying Kids hunger situation in L.A.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Ooh this is a big question! I can start by talking about how I got to where I am today. I was exposed to the sacred drums and traditional dances from early childhood. But I wanted to be on stage. I wanted to study dance. So I went to a couple art schools in Cuba. Graduating from their rigorous program many years after. But then I realized even after all that great education there were a lot of blank pages I would have to fill. Basically, I learned that I would have to go back to the streets to learn from the young rumberos and from the elders. I realized I needed a journey of my own, because I had more questions then when I started. Afro-Cuban in general is such a complex form with so many layers and there is still so much to learn that I am still a student sitting with any elders who want to share their experience and knowledge with me.
After graduating I began touring professionally, in Cuba they can provide that for you. I could have stayed and been part of a dance company, but I wanted to explore the world and express my voice. I wanted my freedom of expression as an artist. I wanted to mark my own creativity and defend my values by not doing political work created for a certain purpose. It was scary and confusing. But then my extensive international touring. And settled in Costa Rica for 5 years followed by bringing my art to the USA. Was the path to a critical journey in my life. Full of grounding challenges and beautiful experiences. Giving me the opportunity to collect so many different pallets, flavors, and be positive influenced by so so many interesting talented people from all walks of life. And all that sparks a new voice, a new tone, a new approach to my work where I started creating with purpose.
Also what might set me apart is my willingness to become a student of my students. As opposed to using the exact pedagogy I was taught. I am in a new country, with a new language and different culture. I have to be a teacher, but also a student at the same time. Is a beautiful, grounding challenge, that promotes constant growth as a dance educator. Believe i will never get bored. (Laughing ) I found myself always exploring ways to break down intricate steps, concepts or music to professional dancers, dance enthusiasts or two left footers. I get so excited when they find their own groove in the dance and their internal rhythm that sometimes they have no idea exists. Is like learning, growing, developing together.
I am fascinated by creating dancer from scratch. To me it is like making a sculpture with a material you are not familiar with. The art of making a dance. Choreographing, creating movements in space, and getting inspired by the authentic movements of the bodies around me is one of my biggest loves. When I am choreographing I often believed I am channeling Gustavo Dudamel, my favorite orchestra director and composer from the LA Phil. LOL!
Curating or producing events where I get to reunite and highlight the vast talent de mi gente (my people). And exposing my elders to the community is one of my biggest priorities. Along side of always providing an authentic Culture experience in my class rooms and events.
Bringing Afro-Cuban as a way of now. a way of healing and enriching ing community is the staple of my work.
Building people together through movements. Cultivating relationships. have known some of my students for more than 20 years, since I started teaching here in LA, I love it! We are familia!!!
Regarding the questions of how I would like people to remember me. Honestly, I have not really thought about it. Till now. That’s a good question, but I I think that I always want to inspire people to know that even their wildest dreams can come true. I mean look at me, I never thought I would be on a huge billboard in Times Square or the New York time! Or having benches with my picture all over the country. Have my friends call, because they saw me on Spanish or American TV. Never thought I would be choreographing for a youth performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Are you kidding me! This is huge for this little Cubanita that grew up in Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth). You probably never hear about it. A tiny little place just south of Cuba. A place that not too many people know about.
I believe so far I’m here on this earth to inspire, spread joy and give life through my culture and craft. I would like people to remember me as the curious educator always trying to find the answer to where exactly different cultures merge with my culture. I would like people to remember me as a pioneering , fearless educator. Always taking risks, going against the current, breaking codes, paving the path for those coming after me. And for sure I would like people to remember me as the firecracker who will keep the party going till sunrise!
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, since my best friend is from Cuba I would take her places I know she will enjoy and also share with some of my favorite places in this city that I now call home. I can spent hrs writing weithing this but this is what comes to mind at this moment.
I will say Road trip!!!! Scenic Drive up the pacific coast line. And head to some of my favorite wineries, I love wine and good food. Santa Ines Valley, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles. Then we have to go to Hearst Castle. LOL!
Back in town, Hollywood sign, then Venice Beach–I mean if you come to LA you have to go to Venice Beach.
Relax day in Malibú at Point Dume and El matador. Stopping at the Getty museum in Malibú and splurging with a nice dinner at Moonshadows.
Quick visit to farmers market on 3rd St. to head to the Car museum on Wilshire and Fairfax then spend long hours at LACMA. Then early dinner at Rosalind in Little Ethiopia on Fairfax Avenue.
A super fun must have experienced one of those 90 min. Adventure with projection mapping, painting, virtual reality, dancing, sound bath.
The arts district in Downtown is a must, the Downtown Library and nearby the Grammy Museum. I love that museum! And of course the LA Philharmonic and dinner at Tu madre. Mexican Restaurant.
My favorite mom and pop little places like my favorite Japanese restaurant Takuma in Santa Monica Wilshire and 26. and obviously Portos because no one makes the pastelitos as good as them!
Obviously I love shopping so I would take my shopping. To Rodeo drive. Just to WINDOW SHOP. Something that we both are very good at. LOL.
No trip without dancing will try to catch an outdoor concert and will try to catch a timba night by my Favorite Cuban DJ in town. DJ Warapo.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The credit for my success always goes first to my mother. She transitioned a year ago and always will be my idol warrior and biggest inspiration. The one that regardless of the hardships of everyday life in Cuba she made sure I would show up to my art school proud of my skin tone and proud of my work. Always reminded me to be unapologetically true to myself. She also taught me something very profound, that it took me years to understand but today is key to my practice. On her Cuban way she will say “Treat your past as your biggest mentors. Look back for experience and look forward for inspiration”
I would like to recognize two of my elders and mentor El maestro Lazaro Gallaraga and maestro Roberto Borrell, both former members of Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba and now reside in the USA. The time and years I had spent with them have inspired me to continue to emphatically preserve our folklore and share it with dignity and pride. And mostly always reminding me. Oye, hey you still have so much to learn.
One of the people who has inspired me is Dr. S. Ama Wray. Her embodiology focus inspired me to pay close attention to the sensory qualities of my practice, but she has also opened a lot of doors for many dance educators coming from another land like myself. Through our collaborations. Beautiful seeds have been planted and today we harvest the joy. For example I met one of my former prodigy Jannet Galdamez when she was a teenanger through Dr. Wrays teaching at USCI. Today she is a member of my dance company and has become a professional dancer with a powerful voice in our artivist dance community
I also appreciate my colleague Marina Magalhães who beautifully speaks her truth, through dance, and makes art with social importance.
A huge shout to the fearless ladies of my dance company Kimbambula Cuban Dance Ensemble and right hand Shana Christopher. Their enthusiasm, hard work and respect for my culture and collective support is a true inspiration and a true portrait of sisterhood true dance.
I want to give a shout out to my dance partner Duane Wrenn, he has been an inspiration too. It has been nice to see a Black man shift careers and go through the struggles of being a Black professional who chose to go for his passion in dance; he is a fitness consultant with a background in kinesiology, but he is inspired by my culture and together we have been able to inspire others through dance.
Website: www.katicubandanceonline.com
Instagram: katihernandez_cubandance
Facebook: Kati Hernandez & Kati Hernandez Cuban dance/Orisha Therapy
Youtube: Kati Hernandez
Other: Kimbambula_cuban_dance (Instagram)
Image Credits
from right top to right and counting down pictures 1- 3 – 9 – Donna Kelly Williams pictures 2 – 7 -8 – Jayson Fann pictures – 5 – Farah Sosa picture – 6 – stories by Tina Asmussen