Contemporary Dance professor, dancer and director Lorna Burdsall has been granted the Cuban Arts Teaching Prize 2010 in recognition of her merits and life dedicated to the training and formation of dancers and artists in Cuba. Now in her 80's, she has mentored and inspired generations of dancers.

Burdsall was born in the United States and trained and took classes at Juilliard's Dance Division, among other dance centers. Once the Cuban Revolution triumphed, the development of arts and culture became a priority and Burdsall taught at the National Dance School and was a founding member of Conjunto Nacional de Danza Moderna (National Modern Dance Ensemble), which she eventually directed.

The Brazilian film industry has reaffirmed its power at Havana's New Latin American Film Festival by taking home 9 awards. Two of them went to Marcelo Gomes' film "I travel because I need it; I come back because I love you".

This movie was awarded the third prize and also the prize for the best sound track performed by musicians Ricardo Cruz y Waldier Xavier.

From the heat of Cuba comes the heart of dance

Cuba is today producing some of the world's finest contemporary and ballet dancers who are performing around the globe, setting standards of excellence both in terms of teachers and as performers. Leading the field is the unique and exciting Danza Contemporanea de Cuba who this year celebrate an outstanding 50 years of excellence with their first ever major UK tour.

Cuban diva Omara Portuondo and renowned pianist Chucho Valdés won top awards during the 10th Latin Grammy Awards ceremony held at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Omara, who is also known as the diva of the Buena Vista Social Club, won the award for Best Contemporary Tropical Album for her recording ‘Gracias' (Thank You), which honored her 60 years as a musician. ‘Gracias' recently won the top award at the Cubadisco 2009 International Music Fair held last May in Havana, along with the DVD ‘Aquí el que baila gana' by Los Van Van.

Win one of two pairs of free tickets to see Cuban jazz virtuoso Omar Puente perform at the Jazz Café in London, on 17 November.

Omar Puente was born in Santiago de Cuba in the early years of the revolution. He is proud of Cuba's commitment to education, but has also played his part in a music revolution in Britain, having lived and worked here for over 12 years, including performing at many CSC events. He lives in Bradford with his wife Debbie. He has just released his debut solo album and plays the Jazz Cafe, London 17 November. Omar talked to CubaSí magazine.

Cuban Culture Minister Abel Prieto addressed the 35th UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization) General Conference in Paris recently, where he said the only way the international organization could reach its objectives and goals would be by undertaking more solidarity-based policies, Prensa Latina reported.

On 20 October in Bayamo, Cuba, thousands of Cuban children, youngsters and adults sang once again their National Anthem, in the place where their ancestors did the same on October 20, 1868. This day is now celebrated as Cuba's National Day of Culture.

An optimistic view on Cuban culture was givrn recently in Paris by Cuban Culture minister Abel Prieto, who was heading a delegation from the island to the 35th General Conference of the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO).

Prieto stressed that three hurricanes, the world economic crisis, and the US blockade would be more than enough reasons for devastation, except in Cuba -he said-, where culture finds a privileged space.

To watch Los Van Van, Cuban super group, perform in Revolution Square, Havana, at the Peace without Borders concert in September click on this YouTube link

DJ Gilles Peterson has been spending time in Havana with musicians over the last year or so and has joined up with Havana Cultura to produce a double album, released 26 October.

Trans in Cuba, an LGBT community festival, will take place in Havana from 27-29 November 2009.
The festival marks a new step towards full acceptance and equal rights the LGBT community in Cuba. Organisers say: “For gays, lesbians and transsexuals the festival will be an historic opportunity to present themselves intentionally and openly as a community to the general public in Cuba.”

Cintio Vitier, the Cuban poet, essayist and novelist, who won the Juan Rulfo prize for literature in 2002 and was considered one of Cuba's foremost intellectuals, has died aged 88.

Local television reported, without providing details, the death of Vitier, who also won Cuba's National Literature Prize in 1988 and was awarded the title of Officer of Arts and Letters by France.

Following his own great passion, Bruce Forsyth presents a BBC TV series on the history of modern dance.

He concludes his journey in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the US, finding the Latin influences on popular dancing, beginning with Saturday Night Fever and the Latin roots of disco.

When Cuba hosted a huge rock concert organised by Colombian singer Juanes and others on 20 September, BBC's Michael Voss was there to report. Watch the video on the BBC website.