DANCEEAST has scored a coup in the shape of guest teacher Tom�s Guilarte, from Danza Contemporanea De Cuba in Havana.

The experienced performer, choreographer and teacher has toured internationally with Carlos’ Acosta’s Toccororo and most recently taught in Venezulea.

“Cuba produces some of the world’s finest dancers, both for ballet and contemporary dance. They use a unique training system for training contemporary dancers intensively from the age of ten and have developed a structured and thorough curriculum, using a similar structure to the residential ballet schools in England,” said DanceEast Academy manager Lucy Hegarty.

“As we develop our own dance training system with the academy we’re excited to learn from the wealth of knowledge Tomas brings, giving the teachers invaluable learning opportunities and giving the students a taste of Cuba.”

Assis Carreiro, DanceEast’s artistic director and chief executive, said they wanted to tap into the tiny island’s amazing heritage and share it with the UK.

“There is a vast talent pool and a passion for dance. To have Tomas with us for three months allows DanceEast to share the teaching skills with our own young people and hopefully embed some of this in our own training.”