 Join us for an enlightening discussion and demonstration by Carlos Mateu, a percussion artist, dancer, and musicologist in revealing the African roots of popular Latin music. He will lead us through live percussion, basic Cuban rumba movement, and the historical and cultural context of Latin dance music.
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Co-Sponsored by AfroSabor.
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iAfroSabor is a New York City–based Afro-Latin dance culture organization rooted in Black joy, identity, and belonging. We center Afro-Latin dances while explicitly honoring their Afro-diasporic origins. AfroSabor creates intentional cultural spaces where Black dancers gather to dance, learn, and build community without having to explain or minimize their identity. The organization's work is culture-first, prioritizing lineage, musicality, and communal exchange over performance or aesthetics. Through classes, socials, and community events, AfroSabor cultivates a living dance culture grounded in Black history and collective joy.
Presented by AfroSabor and Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility at New School for Social Research and The New School.
Carlos Mateu, is a painter, dancer, educator born and raised in Havana, Cuba. He has been inspired by a rich culture of art and music since childhood. He studied visual arts at The National Academy of Fine Art in Havana. Carlos learned to dance to traditional Cuban music (Danzon, Son, Chachachá, etc.) from his grandparents. Carlos currently works as a teaching artist of Cuban dance and visual art for several organizations as Groundswell Community Mural, City Lore, NY Enrichment Group and Abrons Art Center.
Dillon John is the Founder and Executive Director of AfroSabor. A lifelong community builder and creative organizer, he focuses on building durable cultural infrastructure rooted in belonging, rhythm, and lineage, drawing on seven years of experience organizing and co-running a neighborhood-based community recycling initiative in Brooklyn, where he managed day-to-day operations, budgeting, and sustainability. Under his leadership, AfroSabor has grown into a citywide cultural network of over two hundred members. His work centers long-term cultural stewardship, access, and the preservation of Black creative legacy in New York City.
Committed to amplifying diverse voices, The New School offers more than a thousand public programs and events each year, providing fresh perspectives and unique learning opportunities. These lectures, exhibitions, concerts, and performances feature prominent and emerging artists, activists, and thought leaders. Be sure to visit our Events Calendar to see the full roster.
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