Experience Cuba

All activities happen on Saturday and Sunday unless noted otherwise.

Craft: Güiro
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
South El Río
Make your very own güiro and scrape along to Cuban music!

Photo Booth
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
El Río
Have your picture taken in our hands-free photo booth! Digitally share your pictures and tag us with #MIMphx for a chance to be featured on our social media.

Curator Talk: Living the Music in Cuba
10:30–11:00 a.m.
Event Room 2
Learn how music is embedded in Cuban life with relevant highlights from MIM’s extraordinary Cuban instrument collection.

Performance: Frank Valdes
11:30 a.m.–noon
North El Río
Watch a special performance from the legendary Cuban American artist Frank Valdes, a renowned percussionist, vocalist, and composer who has played alongside some of the greatest Latin jazz artists in history.

Dance Workshop: Phoenix Salsa Dance
12:15–12:45 p.m.
Event Room 2
Join Lawrence Garcia and Jewel Hughes for an exciting introduction to Cuban rumba! Rumba guaguancó is a Cuban folkloric dance that is danced socially or in salsa dancing. Learn about the culturally rich rhythms and some of the basic steps of this Caribbean dance!

Performance: Ritmo Latino
1:30–2:15 p.m.
North El Río
Enjoy the sounds of salsa, cumbia, cha-cha, and more Cuban styes from Latin jazz band Ritmo Latino!

Performance: Jaleo (Saturday Only)
3:15–4:00 p.m.
North El Río
Listen to Jaleo as they masterfully combine a variety of Latin jazz genres in this fun fusion performance.

Performance: Marcos Crego Trio—Remembrance of Havana (Sunday Only)
3:15–4:00 p.m.
North El Río
Enjoy an exciting variety of Cuban rhythms with the Havana-born Grammy-nominated pianist Marcos Crego.