A photo tour to Cuba back in 2017 rewarded Jim and Betsy with so many memorable moments and unique photo opportunities, that we always had a desire to return. When we heard about a trip to Havana led by two professional photographers specifically to photograph dancers in the Cuban environment, we knew this would be a special trip.
The Beauty and Grace Photography Workshop that we attended in 2024 was led by American Photographer Rad Drew and Cuban-born photographer Ramses Batista. They knew how to get us to the right locations, and they had access to so many beautiful and talented professional Cuban dancers. Ramses supplied speed lights for us to shine some light on the dancers against a sunlit backdrop. And another professional dancer, the talented Maralana (below, left), accompanied us during the entire time, expertly posing the dancers and interpreting for us so we could communicate with the dancers.
Ramses Batista seems to know everyone in Havana, and they all love him. He can talk his way into just about anywhere, and managed to get us inside the Cuban Ballet School, the Teatro America, and the Great Theatre of Havana, home to the Cuban National Ballet Company; all amazing locations to photograph dancers in their environment.
And then to the streets to enjoy the dancers leaping and posing in the colorful streets of Havana among the antique cars, and along the Malecon, with the crashing surf of the ocean behind them.
Our leaders at work… Rad Drew shared his expertise on cellphone photography and creative processing as well as sharing his infrared filters. Ramses Batista would regularly show the dancers the images we were getting as it not only helped them to understand which poses worked best, but they really enjoyed seeing them as well! And the graceful Maralena, our interpreter, and our guardian angel during the week – here she is enjoying a well-deserved evening out with our group.
This is just a sampling, focusing on the ballet dancers. But there was a lot more! We enjoyed photographing flamenco dancers and the intense performance of Santeria dancers, portraying Afro-Cuban deities to the rhythm of drums. To see more images including our favorite scenes of the people, cars and buildings of Havana, click here.