Ire Omo - About Us

Iré Omó Afro-Cuban Drum and Dance Ensemble was founded in Toronto in May 2000, under the direction of Cuban teacher, dancer, and choreographer Sarita Leyva. The ensemble is dedicated to researching and developing the traditions of Afro-Cuban music through the performance and teaching of dances, music and songs of Afro-Cuban origin, such as:

Yoruba
Congo
Arará
Abakuá
Afro-Haitian
other indigenous rhythms of Cuba (Rumba, Bailes Campesinos, Comparsa, Pilón, Mozambique, etc).

The members of the ensemble are Cuban and Canadian musicians and dancers, who throughout their artistic trajectories have studied, explored and interpreted all these rhythms as well as other genres of music and dance.

Iré Omó’s vision is to provide entertainment and education demonstrating the connections and influences that the Afro-Cuban culture has had and continues to have on American culture. Our mission is to preserve the integrity and authenticity of the Afro-Cuban culture through performances, demonstrations and workshops.

With roots style singing, drumming and dancing Iré Omó will introduce you to the universe of gods, magic and African-rooted rituals.

Iré Omó has performed at:

Festival Hispanoamericano de Cine 2001, Bloor Cinema, Toronto
Sprint 2001 Art Odyssey, Open City, Toronto
Rhythms of the World, Ritmo y Color 2001
Afrocuban Dance Workshop 2001, 2002,University of York
Mardi Gras Celebration, Anglican Church of the Incarnation, Oakville
Muthadi’s International Drum Festival, Queen’s Park, Toronto
Studios Livan Expo 2001, Gallery 1313, Toronto
The Power of the Rhythm, University of Toronto
fFIDA International Dance Festival 2003, Toronto

Sara Leyva began her dance career at the age of seven in Holguin, Cuba. She later moved to Havana where she completed her formal studies and examinations in classical ballet, modern dance, and folkloric dance and choreography at the Cuban National School of Arts (ENA). She subsequently worked as an instructor at a variety of performing arts schools and cultural institutions, all the while maintaining an active dance career, both in Cuba and internationally.

Sarita now resides in Toronto, Canada. Presently, Sarita is the Artistic Director of Iré Omó Afro-Cuban Drum and Dance Ensemble.

She also works as a dance instructor at Lula Lounge, Babaluu night club, and York University... and offers private instruction.

Photo Gallery
As Yemaya
Courtesy of TOSalsa.com

Melissa Noventa's bio coming soon.

Tanya Andrews

Tanya started dancing at the age of 4 and basically hasn't stopped since.

She has been fortunate over the years to study AfroCaribbean dance with Patrick Parsons, Bharatanayam under Gig Payne in the UK and more recently Afro Brazilian with Adrianna Yanuzeillo and of course Afro Cuban and Cuban salsa uner Sarita Leyva.

In addition, Tanya was the co-founder of the Black Magic Dance Company and choreographed as well as performed with them for 12 years.

After a small hiatus from the dance world, Tanya is happy and excited to make her retun to the stage and to have this opportunity to perform with the Ire Omo Dance Company.

Dailyn Martinez

Dailyn was born in Havana, Cuba, has been dancing since a very young age. At nine years old she had already performed on prestigious stages for the Cuban government in Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Pinar del Rio and others. She started her training at Casa de Cultura Dance and Music School. When she reached the age of twelve she successfully auditioned for Juan Pablo Dualte, the Provincial School of Art in Havana to prepare for three years of higher level performance technique.

Between 1996 and 2000 she completed her education at The National Academy of Dance specializing in modern dance, contemporary, jazz and other forms of traditional Cuban dances. In the years to follow Dailyn taught and performed widely in the National Cuban Arena. Presently she dances in the Ire Omo Cuban Dance Company and teaches for the MamboDreamTeam School of Dance.

Rafael Steyners

Rafael was born in Guantanamo City,Cuba. At the age of 5 he was chosen to join a special danceacademy. At the age of 12 he started his first professional school of dance. Then, after a hard audition, he was accepted at one of the most prestigious schools of arts in the country (The National School of Scenic Arts located in Havana). There he specialized in all kinds of Cuban and latin dance, international dance, as well as taking lessons at the National school of Ballet. He found himself not only having a passion for dancing, so he trained as well in singing, acting, and guitar.

By the age of 15 he had performed in dance videos and commercials, soap operas, special national events, and with some of the best known dance companies of Cuba. With his certificate with honors, he worked at the the Tropicana de Cuba in Veradero, later in Cayo Coco. As well as being a member of Ire Omo Cuban Dance Company, he instructs at Arthur Murray dance studios. He also teaches latin dance in group and private lessons with the flavor of Cuba.

Michael Marcuzzi is a performer, arranger, composer, ethnomusicologist and teacher with broad experience in classical, jazz, Cuban, Latin and popular music. He advanced his training through orchestral studies with trumpeters James Spragg and Barton Woomert of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, among others; jazz studies with Kenny Wheeler, Herbie Williams, Marcus Belgrave and Donald Byrd; and percussion studies at the Escuela de Superacion Profesional, Ignacio Cervantes in Havana, Cuba. He has performed with symphony orchestras in Windsor, Detroit and Mississauga; as freelance trumpeter with artists such as Cleo Laine, Sid Caesar, The Four Tops, Al Martino, The Drifters, The Temptations and many others; with numerous musicians in Cuba; and with many Latin music ensembles in Toronto.

Professor Marcuzzi's research interests include organology, Cuban music, African cultural retentions in the diaspora and gender studies in music.

Prior to joining the full-time faculty at York University, Professor Marcuzzi taught for ten years at the university and secondary school level and in community settings in Windsor, Toronto and California. At York, he holds a cross-appointment in the Faculty of Education.

Rick won Percussionist of the Year in the inaugural National Jazz Awards for 2002 and was voted Percussionist of the Year in 2000, 1999, 1997, and 1996 by Jazz Report magazine. He has released 3 CDs with his own group Montuno Police:

Bang, 1990.
Juno-nominee Touch, 1995 (Best Contemporary Jazz Album).
The Call - Live in 1999, which features special guest Randy Brecker on trumpet.

Rick is also the creator and artistic director of Samba Squad, a sizzling group of 40 percussionists, forging new traditions in Brazilian "batucada". Samba Squad's first self-titled CD, which Rick wrote, arranged and produced, won the UMAC (Urban Music Association of Canada) Award for Best World Music recording in 2001.

Rick has worked/recorded with such artists as Bruce Cockburn, Barry White, Paul Shaffer, Brian Hughes, Andy Milne, Blues Brothers, Vuja De, Moe Koffman, Lee Puyming, George Gao (China Tour, Spring 2002), Jesse Cook, Jane Bunnett and Levon Ichkhanian.

For a detailed biography click here.

Ruben Esguerra's bio coming soon.