Renowned Cuban dancer and choreographer Juan Miguel Mas, has faced significant challenges due to Cuba's economic crisis.
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Angie Nixon over protest against approved congressional mapAttorney for off-duty JSO officer accused in skate park takedown pleased after client clearedChoreographer Juan Miguel Mas leads an outdoor performance by his young dancers in a neighborhood of Havana, Cuba, Saturday, May 9, 2026. A young dancer dances during an outdoor performance led by choreographer Juan Miguel Mas, in a neighborhood of Havana, Cuba, Saturday, May 9, 2026.
A woman helps a young dancer with her costume for an outdoor performance led by choreographer Juan Miguel Mas, in a neighborhood of Havana, Cuba, Saturday, May 9, 2026. Residents watch an outdoor performance of young dancers led by choreographer Juan Miguel Mas, in a neighborhood of Havana, Cuba, Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Choreographer Juan Miguel Mas sets up for his weekend garage sale to help supplement his modest income in Havana, Cuba, Saturday, May 9, 2026. Choreographer Juan Miguel Mas leads an outdoor performance by his young dancers in a neighborhood of Havana, Cuba, Saturday, May 9, 2026. .
Directed by Juan Miguel Mas, the troupe pioneered a new movement by working exclusively with larger-bodied dancers — a creative process that was captured in a Canadian documentary. Today, the 60-year-old dancer and choreographer from Havana is far from the big stages where he once thrived and rehearsed alongside professional artists. Instead, he spends his days conducting dance workshops and classes for children and coordinating performances within his community.
But for artists like him, the situation is a little worse, compounded by the cancellation of shows, a lack of production budgets and a mass exodus from the cultural sector. In fact, he was recently notified that his teaching contract with the National Theater of Cuba has been suspended.
“The outlook for the arts is complex and bleak,” said essayist and arts journalist Michel Hernández. He noted that Cuba’s cultural spaces — once affordable and state-run — have deteriorated significantly, leaving artists with few venues beyond a handful of expensive private spaces.
“I am very interested in staying in Cuba,” he told The Associated Press on a recent Saturday as he prepared for a rehearsal with children from a nearby community. “Were I to emigrate, I would lose contact with that ‘Cubanness’ that exists here, with the audience, the people, the folks next door.
”Born in Havana in 1965, Mas trained as a dancer and choreographer under the tutelage of Laura Alonso, a renowned ballerina, and Ramiro Guerra, the father of contemporary dance on the island. He also studied with the Cuban-American dancer and choreographer Lorna Burdsall, who encouraged him to persevere despite the discrimination he faced from dance schools because he weighed 160 kilograms .
He made his debut in 1996 with his own company, Danza Voluminosa , which remained active until 2024 and provided a home for dancers whose bodies diverged significantly from the industry’s prevailing aesthetic norms. He also worked as an actor and in 2025 he starred in “Cherri,” a fictional film based on his own life experiences.
These days, to supplement the modest income he makes working with children, Mas leases a small area of his home for business use and hosts weekend garage sales featuring curated recycled clothing, tableware and household goods. Since his sister and teenage nephew relocated to Spain last year, he has lived alone and managed his expenses by shopping at a local farmers’ market just two blocks away. Conveniently, he also accesses subsidized medications at a state-run pharmacy directly across the street.
On a recent morning, water bottle in hand to ward off the heat, Mas walked six blocks to the lively Marianao district, where a crowd of 30 children and their mothers awaited his arrival. The group suddenly transformed a street corner into a stage and for a full 90 minutes, the air filled with music as the little ones performed their songs and showed off their dance moves dressed as bees and other colorful characters.
“It’s about bringing the knowledge of art to these children and lifting them out of a reality defined by conflict,” he said. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Cuban dancer finds new mission in street corners as Havana's art scene fadesRenowned Cuban dancer and choreographer Juan Miguel Mas, has faced significant challenges due to Cuba's economic crisis. Once filling prestigious venues with his troupe, Danza Voluminosa, he now focuses on community dance workshops for children.
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