Friday Night of “Cubania: A Celebration of Cuban Dance Heritage”

This annual event, held since 2018, blends local businesses and organizations, local artists of various mediums, and invited guests, with a focus on culture, food, education, and exchange, celebrating Hispanic culture during this special month and broadly sharing the work of Anaya Latin Dance with the local community. The first night of the event takes place on Friday at Lil Babes Cocktail Lounge. Later we are on Saturday at Main Event, and on Sunday at the Castle on O'Malley. Get your tickets for Friday night only on this page, and check out our website for more information on the full event as well as our Sunday pass and "full pass" options!

This year’s theme, “Immigrants Make Alaska Great”, is inspired by the art currently on display at our dance studio created by local visual artist Lina Villar. Many of the artists and businesses involved in this weekend of activities are the work of immigrants, including Anaya Latin Dance. We believe that immigrants enhance our community, bringing new life and fresh creativity to our great state. As part of the theme, we will be collecting much-needed donations for our local Refugee Assistance and Immigrant Services (RAIS), who are currently working to resettle Afghan refugees arriving in Anchorage mid-October. You can view the wish list online and either purchase online or bring them to any day of the event. Some current high priority items include new queen and twin size sheets, dish soap, laundry detergent, toilet paper, and new pillows. Find the rest of the wish list online, and please bring items to the event for donation.

Our special invited guests this year are Reinier and Daniela from La Clave Cubana dance company in Seattle. Reinier is from Cuba and has worked as a professional dancer in both Cuba and Brazil before immigrating to the USA. Daniela is originally from Mexico and has worked both in Mexico and Canada before joining Reinier in Seattle to co-direct La Clave Cubana. Together, they teach and perform Cuban dances, organize and host the annual Seattle Cuban Dance Fest, and run touristic dance courses in Cuba.

On Friday, October 8^th, join us at Lil Babes Cocktail Lounge in Mountain View (Dress: Club)

Address: 3515 Mt. View Drive, Anchorage

7 pm: Doors open & art reception with the work of local visual artist Carlos Pereira

7:30 pm: Musicality class for dancers with Reinier and Daniela: “Son Clave, Rumba Clave”

8:00 pm: Three course Caribbean dinner from Lil Babes’ kitchen is served

9:00 pm: Artist presentation, door prizes, some words from RAIS, and performance debut of a new original song by local singer-songwriter Mike Nicassi, “Alaska ¿como va?”

Tickets: $35 per person for this night only (includes dinner), or purchase a full weekender pass ($130) on our website to attend all three days

When purchasing tickets through this site for Friday night, please choose a table (names correspond to Caribbean sea nations) which will help you communicate with your friends about seating. 

Please use the below info for seating information:

*Tables that will seat a party of 5: Honduras, The Bahamas, Barbados (3 tables total that can seat parties of 5)

*Tables that will seat a party of 4: Mexico, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe (5 tables total that can seat parties of 4)

*Tables that will seat a party of 3: Cuba, Belize, Dominican Republic (3 tables total that can seat parties of 3)

*Tables that will seat a party of 2: Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, Venezuela (4 tables total that can seat parties of 2)

Note: The Friday night event lasts until 9:30 pm and is open to participants 21+, and it is kindly requested that participants for our “Cubania” event this evening come fully vaccinated. As dinner will be seated, space is limited! After 9:30 pm, Lil Babes is open to the general public. Masks are optional but welcome, and hand sanitizer is provided. As with any social event, please do not attend if you are sick, have a fever, show any symptoms of illness, have been exposed to Covid-19, have recently travelled, or are waiting for the results of a Covid-19 test. 

A big “thank you” to all of the local businesses and artists involved, as well as to our other sponsors – the Alaska Cigar Aficionados Club, and more TBA! Contact us if you are interested in sponsoring this event, which includes VIP seating at our Friday and Saturday night events!