WELCOME TO | ¡BIENVENIDOS A!
WELCOME TO | ¡BIENVENIDOS A!
Nov 27-29, 2026
A weekend of dance, music, and appreciation of Cuban culture
El Salón del Son is a music and dance weekender created as an invitation to celebrate the rich traditions of Cuban dance and music.
For its 2026 edition, the weekender welcomes dance artist Ethan Wagner, whose journey has been devoted to the study of Cuban dance. Across eight hours of workshops, dancers will be invited to discover—or rediscover—the unmistakable Cuban sabor: its rhythm, character, movement, and musicality.
Saturday evening brings the El Salón del Son Gala: an occasion for fine dress, elegant dancing, good music and, naturally, a Mojito or two. The evening will come alive to the sound of Miguelito Valdes and Son de Cuba quintet, accompanied by DJ sets, dance performances, and a floor awaiting dancers until after midnight.
Victoria, prepare yourselves — a grand Cuban weekend awaits!
Cuban Son
(Partnerwork)
Time: 1:30 – 3:00 PM
Location: Victoria Conference Centre
Cuban Salsa
(Partnerwork)
Time: 3:00-4:30 PM
Location: Victoria Conference Centre
Rumba Guaganco
Time: 1:00-2:30 PM
Location: TBD
Afro-Cuban (Chango)
Time: 2:30-4:00 PM
Location TBD
Ethan is a dancer, teacher, and cult leader (according to “prosecutorial court filings”) from New York, the safest, cleanest, and friendliest city on earth. He is a lover of almost every kind of Cuban music and dance, from rueda de casino to rumba, son to suelta, and bolero to Afro-Cuban folkloric dance and music.
Ethan has danced for several years with Oyu Oro Afro-Cuban Dance Company, directed by Danys “La Mora” Perez, and trained extensively with Israel Pirri Valdes of the Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba, as well as the Compania Internacional de Bailes Cubanos, led by Leonardo Martinez Moya.
Ethan has honed his skills teaching Cuban dance to Americans in Mexico, Norwegians in Spain, and superhero action figures (not “dolls,” Dad!) in his own bedroom.
He is the creator of dance events including Rueda at the Park, the Rueda Exchange (RuedX), Así Se Goza, and Rueday. He is a 53x runner-up at the World Sarcasm Championships and was named 2016’s Best Dancer and Handsomest Grandson by his abuela.
We know that you’ll like Ethan–after all, he still calls it Lake Ontario! You can learn more about his classes, follow his shenanigans, or leave grandiose compliments/vaguely threatening insults here.
Doors open at 8:30 PM
An evening of fine dress, live music, and elegant dancing.
Miguelito and Son de Cuba will bring the Gala to life with the sounds and rhythms of Cuban music.
And word has it, a few new numbers are joining the repertoire for the occasion! – just when you thought you’d heard it all –
Originally from Cuba and based in Vancouver, DJ Kubanito joins the Gala to keep you on the dance floor all night! A dance instructor himself, he knows what songs will keep you in the groove, what songs will set you on fire, and what songs will send you home!
A driving presence in the Vancouver scene, DJ Kubanito comes with one warning: sitting may be difficult.
And what a Salón it is! A grand hall with soaring ceilings, a generous dance floor, and a professional sound system ready to fill the room with music. Tables and chairs await every guest—so whether you are dancing, sharing a drink, or simply taking in the music, there is a place for you.
FULL WEEKEND PASS · $120
Save $20 with September pricing
October $130 · November $140
Workshop passes . Day passes . Gala Passes are available on AdmitOne ticketing platform.
Secure your place at the best available rate while giving us the advantage of planning ahead. Early bookings allow us to prepare every detail with greater care — from the dance floor to the final note.
A better fare for you. Fewer grey hairs for us.
Nacido en Cuba, el son cubano reúne ritmo, melodía, movimiento y conversación. De raíces españolas y afrocubanas, se convirtió en una de las grandes influencias de la música cubana y en una base fundamental de la salsa.
Clave, conexión, diálogo y sabor cubano: ese espíritu está en el corazón de El Salón del Son.
Born in Cuba, son cubano is where rhythm, melody, movement, and conversation meet. Blending Spanish musical traditions with Afro-Cuban rhythms, son became one of Cuba’s most influential musical forms — and one of the essential foundations from which modern salsa would later emerge.
But son is more than a predecessor to salsa. It carries a particular way of listening and moving: the dialogue between instruments, the pulse of the clave, the connection between partners, and that unmistakable Cuban sabor.
That spirit is at the heart of El Salón del Son.
Join us for a weekend of good music, great dancing, warm company, and plenty of sabor cubano. ¡Nos vemos en la pista!
Friday, Nov 27
Saturday, Nov 28
Sunday, Nov 29
720 Douglas st, V8W 3M7
716 Johnson st, V8W 1N1
Tiered pricing on Admit One. Link here.
