Thesis Title: "Cimarronaje in Global Cities: Afro-Cuban Dances in Exile".  

Bio
Neri Torres is an artist, choreographer, and scholar from Havana, Cuba, with an extensive background in dance. She honed her craft at the prestigious Instituto Superior de Artes and Escuela Nacional de Instructores de Artes in Havana, Cuba, before obtaining an MFA in dance and a minor in film from the University of Colorado, Boulder. As the founder and artistic director of the IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Company in Miami, she seamlessly blends traditional and contemporary dance and curates an annual Afro-Cuban dance festival in Miami. Neri has left her mark on international tours, film, television, and stage productions, collaborating with A-list artists such as Andy Garcia and Gloria Estefan. In addition to her stellar performances, she is the main editor of the book "Perspectives on Dance Fusion in the Caribbean and Dance Sustainability: Rituals of Modern Society." Currently, Neri works as a lecturer at Five College while pursuing a doctorate in Cultural Studies at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill, Barbados. Neri's research delves into dance and migration, Afro-Cuban dance spirituality and identity formation, cultural appropriation in the context of Caribbean dance. Her talent and dedication were recognized in March 2013 when she received the prestigious State of Florida Folk Heritage Award from Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner for her exceptional contributions to Florida's cultural heritage as a performer and advocate of Afro-Cuban traditional dance.


For further queries, please contact the Department of Cultural Studies at 417-7635 or culturalstudies@cavehill.uwi.edu or the Faculty Office at 417-4776 or fccpa@cavehill.uwi.edu.