Tiny Feet Big Rhythm: Join The Cuban Dance Experience

By VOICE-TRIBUNE • Photos By Marty King 

Looking for a unique and enriching activity for your child that blends culture, movement, and fun? SY Academy in Louisville is offering Traditional Cuban Dance classes specifically for children ages 4 to 10. Held every Saturday from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, these classes provide a supportive and welcoming environment where kids can explore rhythm, coordination, and the joy of dance through the lens of Cuban tradition. It’s a cultural experience that celebrates music, history, and expression. 

The classes are led by professional dancers Selen Wilson and Yosvany Pascual, a husband-and-wife duo originally from Cuba. Yosvany is a graduate of the prestigious Cuban National School of Ballet, and Selen is trained in Afro-Cuban and Traditional Dances. With more than 18 years of dance experience, they bring authenticity, skill, and passion to every session. Since arriving in Louisville in 2015, they’ve been dedicated to sharing their culture through dance education for both adults and children. 

In 2022, they launched a kids cultural project called QSIGALATRADICION, designed to connect children with their heritage through Latin traditional dance, ballet, and, most recently, percussion classes. The program welcomes children ages 2 to 15 and has already grown to include around 51 young dancers. Their mission is not only to teach dance but to bring culture to life by providing children the opportunity to perform all over the city at events like WorldFest (2023–2024), Master of Bluegrass Dance Convention 2024, Carnavales de Sweet Havana, JCPS WorldFest, and more. These performances offer cultural exchange, build confidence, and encourage family participation. 

The instructors at SY Academy are passionate about preserving and sharing this art form, making each session both educational and incredibly fun. Plus, the group setting helps young dancers make new friends and feel part of something special. 

Dance provides the perfect balance of discipline and creativity. In each class, children develop focus and body awareness, all while expressing themselves freely through music. It also improves flexibility, balance, and cardiovascular health, keeping your child active and engaged.

In celebration of their three-year anniversary, QSIGALATRADICION recently hosted a multicultural event featuring performances from Ballet Folklorico Arte Mex, Natya Dance Academy, The Ville Casineras, Salsa Rush, Tabares Ahinama, and more, turning the milestone into a broader celebration of global cultures and traditions.

Now moving into a new studio space, the program is expanding its class offerings to include gymnastics, Afro-Cuban, and Jumping Dance Fitness, with weekday options to accommodate more families. Everything they do is rooted in a single goal: to make children smile while they dance, because every little step counts and helps keep the tradición alive.

SY Academy, in partnership with Fleur De Lis Afro-Cuban, is helping bring vibrant, authentic Afro-Cuban culture to the heart of Louisville. By enrolling your child in these classes, you’re not only giving them a new skill but also exposing them to the richness of heritage and tradition that will stay with them for life.

If you’ve been looking for something meaningful and exciting for your child to be part of, this is it. Spots may be limited, so now is the perfect time to sign up. Let your child discover the joy of Cuban dance, connect with culture, and move to the rhythms that have inspired generations.

Visit SY Academy’s Facebook page or reach out directly for more information, and give your child a chance to shine on the dance floor!