Cuba 2026: A Decade of Dance, Love, and Humanitarian Hope for Tomorrow
In 2016, I took my very first trip to Cuba. I was invited by a close friend of mine who is Cuban American; she and her family were going to connect with their relatives on the island. I thought, why not?
President Obama had just visited, re-establishing diplomatic relationships for the first time in over 50 years. Like many Americans, I felt an intense curiosity about this place that was supposedly "frozen in time." I've always been drawn to things wrapped in mystery and I couldn't wait to see it for myself before everything “changed.”
My goals were simple: learn the history, discover the truth for myself, connect with the people, and most importantly dance.
Finding the Purest Rhythm
Dance has been innate in me since I was a kid. I loved knowing that so many of my favorite Latin dances originated from the African influences woven into Cuban culture. Because the island had been so isolated for decades following the 1961 revolution, I expected to find dance forms like Salsa, Son, and Mambo in their purest states. There is also an abundance of talented artists on the island, and I wanted to learn from the best - wasn't disappointed.
Classically Cuban
What struck me first wasn't the iconic vintage cars or the dilapidated architecture - it was the vibrancy and sheer resilience of the people.
I fell in love with their joy and welcoming spirit. From 2016 to 2018, Old Havana felt alive with music spilling into the streets. Cruise ships dropped off day-trippers while classic cars paraded down the Malecón. The air was thick with optimism; Cuban entrepreneurship was booming, and locals embraced the Obama-era policies that brought tourism and a renewed energy to the island. After decades of isolation, Wi-Fi was finally connecting them to the world, and Cubans were feeling seen.
They were incredibly resourceful, finding ways to thrive against the odds. As a kid who had faced my own share of setbacks, Cuba felt like the geographical personification of my own spirit: still standing, no matter how much it was underestimated.
Ultimately, I didn’t just fall in love with the island. I fell in love with someone there—and that single trip marked the beginning of a ten-year relationship.
Building Bridges through Art
To keep that relationship going, I kept returning. Eventually, my husband at the time helped me pivot my passion into a business. We started bringing groups to the island - people who were curious, rhythmically inclined, and wanted to support Cuban tourism and the arts.
For years, our trips were heavily focused on cultural exchange and giving back. But as global politics shifted and diplomatic relations began to cool again, we watched tourism dwindle little by little. And with its decline, we watched the people lose hope all over again.
The Reality of 2026: A Dire Shift
My most recent trip to Cuba was entirely humanitarian. We are all aware of the heavy geopolitical crises happening across the globe right now, but we cannot forget what is happening right in our backyard.
The situation in Cuba is dire. While it remains vital to support local artists, the needs of the people have far outgrown donations of dance clothes and musical instruments. Basic survival is now at stake.
The Current Reality on the Ground:
The electrical grid is collapsing, leaving entire towns without power for days on end in the sweltering summer heat. This blackout crisis exacerbates severe food scarcity, causing food to spoil in powerless refrigerators and forcing people to the brink of starvation, with some openly digging through garbage for sustenance. Simultaneously, water and sanitation crises are mounting; many buildings are completely without running water, and uncollected trash piles up due to a total lack of gasoline, creating massive public health risks. Compounding it all is an astronomical economic divide where survival is nearly impossible without family abroad to send digital remittances or order food through apps, leaving the vulnerable elderly population to suffer tremendously.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, we can all agree on one thing: it is the everyday people who suffer.
The Power of the Cuban Spirit & Endless Gratitude
Despite the heavy, hopeless energy hanging over the island, the inherent goodness of the Cuban spirit still shines through. On this trip, we visited maternity homes and orphanages to distribute critical supplies.
I want to extend a massive, heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated items, knowing the humanitarian nature of this journey.
I also need to send a special shoutout to the incredible people who made this execution possible:
Raisa, thank you for accompanying me on this heavy but necessary trip. I also want to express my deepest gratitude to the ladies of 3D - Daymara, Dayme, and Daime. I met this dance trio 10 years ago during my very first trip to Cuba. Even though they are facing immense needs of their own right now, they completely mobilized to help me organize and distribute the donations.
To distract from the hardships and bring genuine joy to the children, the 3D team put on costumes, performed, and sang for the kids at the orphanage. We threw a massive pizza party, complete with ice cream and soda. Yes, we gave them way more sugar than they needed for one day, but seeing them smile was worth every bit of it.
Beyond the party, we were able to deliver life-saving medicines, colostomy bags, hygiene products, and basic essentials. We also made sure to shower the caretakers with love and supplies, because their grueling work so often goes unnoticed.
A Final Thought: It Has Already Changed
To anyone who ever said they wanted to visit Cuba "before it changes" I have news for you. It has been changing. It is changing rapidly, drastically, and unpredictably every single day.
This trip was starkly different from my first in 2016, but it was the most necessary one yet. The Cuban people have endured far more than anyone ever should. They deserve to be recognized, they deserve to be cared for, and above all, they deserve not to be forgotten.
#SupportTheCubanPeople
Support the Cuban People
If our journey through Cuba inspired you, there are meaningful ways to make a difference. The Cuban people continue to face daily challenges, and even small acts of support can have a lasting impact on individuals, families, and local communities.
To learn more about how you can help and access trusted resources, please visit our Linktree:
Thank you for standing with the Cuban people and helping us extend the spirit of community beyond our travels.