Afro-Cuban Singing Music Retreat - Finca Ara Oko
Finca Ara Oko, Cortijo de Jorge, 18440 Cádiar, Granada, Spain
Up to 14 in group
June 25 - July 2, 2024
Retreat Highlights
- - Expert tuition from leading facilitators
- - 7-day retreats
- - 25 hours of tuition
- - Beautiful surroundings
- - Off-grid ancient farmhouse
- - Stunning views
- - Close to the sea
- - Organic and locally sourced food
About this Retreat
David started as a Jazz musician playing drums and percussion with Django Bates, Tim Whitehead, Chucho Merchan’s Macondo, Loose Tubes, and Dudu Pukwana. He then developed an interest in Latin music which led to being a founder member of British Salsa bands Valdez, El Sonido De Londres, La Clave and Roberto Pla’s Latin Ensemble. From 1988-1990 he spent time in the U.S. in New York and Miami, working with Daniel Santos, Orlando Contreras and La Sensacion with El Niño Jesus and Eddie Guagua Rivera.
David has backed many artists such as Omara Portuondo and Cachaito from the Buena Vista Social Club, Bebo Valdez, Slim Gailard, Carlos ‘Patato’ Valdez, Daniel Ponce, Papaito, Henry Fiol, Tito Allen, Adalberto Santiago, Tito Nieves, Maelo Ruiz, Marvin Santiago, Cano Estremera and Jimmy Bosch.
He has recorded with Jacob Collier, Paul McCartney, Vic Goddard, Tindersticks, Slim Gailard, Snowboy and the Latin Section (8 albums), Alex Wilson (4 albums including co-producing ‘Anglo Cubano’ recorded in Cuba), Cubanismo, Alfredo Rodriguez (both also recorded in Cuba), Cheikh Lo, and Afro Cubism.
David has been playing Cuban folkloric drumming in both performance and ritual contexts for twenty-five years. He is a sworn ritual batá drummer who has played alongside many of the most respected elders of the tradition. Over the last ten years, he has dedicated time to sharing his knowledge. He has experience of teaching individually, in groups and at university level.
Victoria Jassey is a founder and artistic director of Bombo Productions, supporting Afro-Cuban music in the U.K. since 2007. She is also a scholar, musician and educator. She holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology from Cardiff University and completed her Masters in Performance at SOAS, University of London. Vicky worked as an independent researcher at Florida International University, where she completed an oral history project on Miami ritual batá drummers called The Bearers of Sacred Sound.
Vicky specialises in Afro-Cuban folkloric music and is a co-director, lead singer and percussionist in Coro de Clave – Cuban Harmony Choir in the UK and Spain and Orchestra Bombo. She is also the director of Moving Voices UK, an organisation that provides support and group singing for female survivors of human trafficking. She has also performed with Geraldo y Sus Amigos, Dilanga, Meta Meta, Edun Ara and Rumba Oricha.
Details of this retreat
Drawing on the choir Coro de Clave (based in London and Spain), this retreat provides a week of group and individual vocal development. You will learn stunning Cuban folkloric songs in three and four-part harmonies. Each day will consist of sessions that develop breathwork and diaphragm strengthening for vocals, musical confidence with rhythm and harmony, and lead and group singing.
We want you to leave our retreat a more confident, connected, and knowledgeable singer and take home with you a collection of beautiful songs and memories that you can keep forever.
The week works towards a performance at the Surlayr Festival in the beautiful village of Pampaneira, where we will be joined by members of the Spanish Coro de Clave.
The name Coro de Clave was given to choirs that proliferated in the black communities of Western Cuba from the last part of the 1800s until around 1920. They were mobile ensembles, often amassing over 100 members and would compete with other neighbouring groups. We have revived and transferred this beautiful idea of community singing to this century and expanded the repertoire to include other Cuban-based styles.
The retreat celebrates the music, historical context and culture of this tradition, the coming together of a wonderful community of people who enjoy singing these special songs and the beautiful surrounding landscape.
The week-long retreat is split between tuition, practice time and making the most of the amazing location (mountain walks, beaches, snorkelling, sunbathing, star-gazing, horse riding etc. ), relaxing and, of course, eating and drinking.
We want you to leave our retreat a more confident, connected, and knowledgeable singer and take home with you a collection of beautiful songs and memories that you can keep forever.
The week works towards a performance at the Surlayr Festival in the beautiful village of Pampaneira, where we will be joined by members of the Spanish Coro de Clave.
The name Coro de Clave was given to choirs that proliferated in the black communities of Western Cuba from the last part of the 1800s until around 1920. They were mobile ensembles, often amassing over 100 members and would compete with other neighbouring groups. We have revived and transferred this beautiful idea of community singing to this century and expanded the repertoire to include other Cuban-based styles.
The retreat celebrates the music, historical context and culture of this tradition, the coming together of a wonderful community of people who enjoy singing these special songs and the beautiful surrounding landscape.
The week-long retreat is split between tuition, practice time and making the most of the amazing location (mountain walks, beaches, snorkelling, sunbathing, star-gazing, horse riding etc. ), relaxing and, of course, eating and drinking.
Schedule
9 - 10am - Breakfast
10.15 - 1.15pm - Tuition
1.30 - 2.30 - Lunch
2.30 - 4.30 - Private study time/siesta/walk
4.30 - 6.30 - Tuition
6.30 - 8.00 - Private study time/siesta/walk
8.00 - 9.30 - Dinner
We offer trips to the local town, beach and walks.
10.15 - 1.15pm - Tuition
1.30 - 2.30 - Lunch
2.30 - 4.30 - Private study time/siesta/walk
4.30 - 6.30 - Tuition
6.30 - 8.00 - Private study time/siesta/walk
8.00 - 9.30 - Dinner
We offer trips to the local town, beach and walks.
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
Bombo Productions, Finca Ara Oko, Cortijo de Jorge, 18440 Cádiar, Granada, Spain
Directions
The nearest airport is Almeria (1 hr 20mins drive), then Granada (1 ½-hour drive), then Malaga (2-hour drive). Fares range from £50-350 return. Malaga is often the cheapest and has the most frequent flights.
– Transport to and from the airport: Public transport, unfortunately, is rubbish. The cheapest way is to coordinate your flight times with others attending the course. We will help facilitate this and may suggest a flight time. Here are some taxi prices from 2022.
Taxi to/from Almeria (7-seater) – €110.
Taxi to/from Malaga (7-seater) €170.
Bus to/from Malaga to Motril (Alsa bus company) – €10
Taxi to/from Motril €80.
Taxi to/from Granada €110
– Transport to and from the airport: Public transport, unfortunately, is rubbish. The cheapest way is to coordinate your flight times with others attending the course. We will help facilitate this and may suggest a flight time. Here are some taxi prices from 2022.
Taxi to/from Almeria (7-seater) – €110.
Taxi to/from Malaga (7-seater) €170.
Bus to/from Malaga to Motril (Alsa bus company) – €10
Taxi to/from Motril €80.
Taxi to/from Granada €110
Accommodation
Finca Ara Oko is an ancient off-grid Andalusian farmhouse with original features offering three separate two-bed apartments with their own entrances with a total of four bedrooms (sleeping up to 8 people: two double beds and four single beds) and a two-bell-tent glamping area. Our property uses solar energy and a water filtration system. It has stunning views of the sea and the mountains and is 30 minutes from the beach.
Shared Room - Earlybird (Book before 25th March)
Shared Room - Regular (Booked after before 25th March)
Single Room - Early Bird (Booked before 25th March)
Single Room - Regular (Booked after before 25th March)
Glamping (sharing with 1 person) Earlybird (Book before 25th March)
Glamping (sharing with 1 person) Regular (Book before after 25th March)
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Finca Ara Oko is an ancient off-grid Andalusian farmhouse with original features offering three separate two-bed apartments with their own entrances with a total of six bedrooms and a two-bell-tent glamping area. Our property uses solar energy and a water filtration system. It has stunning views of the sea and the mountains and is 30 minutes from the beach.
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
We try to buy locally-grown organic food where possible. We also collaborate with local farmers, bakers and suppliers to access sustainable food for our guests.
What's Included
- Included in the price are 7 nights accommodation, three meals a day and 5 days x 5 hours of tuition.
What's Not Included
- – Extra accommodation: please see our accommodation page for prices.
- – Extra meals: Breakfast £5, Lunch £7, Dinner £10
- – Alcohol
- – Flights: The nearest airport is Almeria (1 hr 20mins drive), then Granada (1 ½-hour drive), then Malaga (2-hour drive). Fares range from £50-350 return. Malaga is often the cheapest and has the most frequent flights.
- – Transport to and from the airport: Public transport, unfortunately, is rubbish. The cheapest way is to coordinate your flight times with others attending the course. We will help facilitate this and may suggest a flight time. Here are some taxi prices from 2022.
- Taxi to/from Almeria (7-seater) – €110.
- Taxi to/from Malaga (7-seater) €170.
- Bus to/from Malaga to Motril (Alsa bus company) – €10
- Taxi to/from Motril €80.
- Taxi to/from Granada €110
- – Transport during your stay.
- Car hire: Some of you may wish to hire a car during your stay. It is a lovely place to drive with good roads and no traffic. If you choose this option, please let us know as we have plenty of experience of how not to get ripped off by car-hire firms.
- – Travel insurance: Please make your own arrangements.
- – Extra lessons
- – Extra excursions or activities: There are horse riding, cycling and water sports activities available nearby. If you would like us to organise any of these events, please let us know beforehand.
- *If you wish to stay longer than 7 nights, please check with us to see if we can accommodate you. If we can’t for any reason, we will be able to suggest places to stay nearby.
Similar retreats
/
