How perseverance, dedication and passion for Afro-Cuban dance led Juan Carlos from Havana to world renown dancer and choreographer.

Juan Carlos Blanco Riera was born and raised in Havana, Cuba, where he performed with several professional companies for over 15 years before coming to the U.S.  As a youth, he started his performance career with the folkloric arts group, Cumballe, and Oba Ilú, in his home town of Guanabacoa.  He later joined one of Cuba's most renowned folkloric companies, Raices Profundas (Deep Roots), directed by Juan De Dios Ramos Morejon.  He spent nine years with Raices Profundas, where he rose to the level of lead male dancer and soloist, touring Latin America and Asia.Mr. Blanco's desire to deepen his knowledge of his cultural expression drove him to become involved with several diverse art groups in Havana.  He performed with Teatro de la Havana in a number of theatrical plays including De Mi Tierra Vengo, Maria Antonia, Santa Camila de la Havana Vieja, and Requip por Yarini.  He danced, acted and choreographed with Arte Popular, a popular theater company directed by Tito Junco.  Mr. Blanco performed with the innovative modern dance company Alabama.   He also spent several years working with the Franco-Haitian company Ban Rra Rrá, directed by Isaias Rojas Ramirez as percussionist and instructor of Afro-Cuban dance.While in Cuba, he was charged with the responsibility of training both professional Cuban dancers and educating foreign students through the Instituto Superior de Arte and the Escuela Nacional de Arte.  He served as artistic director for the folkloric ensemble Arawe that toured Peru in 1997.  He also choreographed several productions in Havana, including Afro-Peru, a collaboration with Peruvian singer Argelia Fragoso, and Trilogia, produced with Raices Profundas.Since coming to the United States, Mr. Blanco has been featured in various Afro-Cuban productions in the California area as dancer and guest choreographer for groups such as Olorun, Alafia, and Taifa.   In 1998 he founded the San Diego-based Afro-Cuban folkloric ensemble, Omo Aché, which serves and performs in schools, universities, and multi-cultural venues throughout California.  For more information on classes, workshops and performances please visitomoachecubanculture.org