The 19th Annual IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Festival takes place August 14-19, 2017, in Miami. One of the related events is a conference that opens a dialogue on topics relevant to the continuity and preservation of the Regla de Ocha tradition. The conference—“Following the Steps of the Orishas: Afro-Cuban Spirituality in Urban Spaces”—sponsored by the IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Company and HistoryMiami Museum, will take place on Thursday, August 17, from 9:00am to 8:00pm at the Museum, located at 101 West Flagler Street, Miami.

The conference schedule includes a keynote speech by Dr. Keshia Abraham (Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Florida Memorial University). The festival culminates with a new choreography by IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Company director Neri Torres in collaboration with guest dancers from Ban Rarra and Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba, and a closing cocktail party.

For more on the event, see https://www.eventbrite.com/e/following-the-steps-of-the-orishas-afro-cuban-spirituality-in-urban-spaces-academic-conference-tickets-36205051283?aff=es2 and http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/event/ife-ile-afro-cuban-dance-festival/30408