CLASSES RESUME JANUARY 13TH!
CLASSES RESUME JANUARY 13TH!
OUR STORY
Palenke officially launched in 2023, offering Cuban dance classes in casino and rueda de casino in the Triangle. Our name honors the Cuban history of palenques, referring to the communities and settlements formed by those who escaped enslavement. Not only did these spaces provide refuge for many, but Cuban dance and music are heavily influenced by this history. In this spirit, we formed Palenke as a response to us feeling unsafe and unwelcomed in the traditional “dance scene” while wanting to have a more meaningful connection to Cuban dance and music.
We have cultivated Palenke as a space that not only invites people to dance in a safe environment, but where people can enjoy learning the history, culture, and technique of social Cuban dance forms such as casino and rueda. We also offer traditional bachata classes - a sound from the Dominican Republic that is heavily influenced by Cuban rhythms like son and bolero. At Palenke, we aim to highlight what we love most about Cuban and Dominican dance and we are excited to share the richness and uniqueness of these cultural expressions with you!
