ALAFIA Dance & Drum Company

A graduate of Cuba’s prestigious National School of Art Instructors, Rousseaux danced for 5 years with one of Cuba’s premiere folklore companies, Compañía JJ. Since leaving Cuba in 1997, Rousseaux has traveled across the Americas & Europe, perfecting his art, mastering the batá drum, & developing a subtle awareness of the folkloric roots common to all countries of the Americas. After arriving in the DC area in 2003, Rousseaux rapidly gained fame on the local arts scene, not only for energetic & invigorating classes but also for colorful, engaging choreographies & charismatic performances. He has received kudos for his work as Director and Choreographer of ALAFIA Dance & Drum, the folkloric ensemble that Rousseaux leads through a broad repertoire of Cuban folklore and Latino dance. The company has been praised as much for its singing and live percussion as for its dancing. In 2007, the Maryland State Art’s Council recognized Rousseaux’s achievement in dance and choreography with an individual artist award.