Exactly 20 years ago this month, Vivio Ramos decided to make a life in New Zealand bringing with him his infectious love for Cuban dance. He speaks to Kadambari Raghukumar in this episode on growing up in Cuba, studying dance, and making a life in New Zealand.

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Exactly 20 years ago this month, Vivio decided to make a life in New Zealand bringing with him his infectious love for Cuban dance.

In this episode Vivio looks back on growing up in Cuba in the 60s and 70s, studying dance and sharing his love for Rumba here in New Zealand.

Listen free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts or any good podcast app.

In 2002, while on a last leg of a tour with a salsa company Vivio decided he wanted to stay teach dance here in New Zealand - a long way from his home in the easternmost province of Cuba where he lived in the 60s and early 70s until he was about 10. Guantanamo, known not just for the controversial US Navy base but is also a part of the island that's rich in natural beauty and indigenous culture.

With the constant American presence in Guantanamo, it was a cultural diet of American jazz, baseball, soul, and traditional Cuban music that Vivio grew up on in these parts.

Vivio got his big break and left the countryside in Guantanamo when he got selected to study at the prestigious National Arts School in Havana where he spent seven years before becoming a professional dancer.

Listen to this full story on this weeks Voices episode:

Listen free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts or any good podcast app.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details