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Find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thecubangroove
Or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecubangroove/
Or Email cubanos@gmail.com
ORIGINALLY from Guantanamo and Havana, Cuba, Vivio is a world-class dancer, choreographer, teacher and musician who has been running The Cuban Groove in Auckland for 23 years.
He loves to share his extensive knowledge and passion for Cuban dances with students around the country and beyond.
Vivio’s band KE LO KE is headlining the Salsa Tumbao 2025 party, where you’ll get to experience joyful Cuban rhythms on the dance floor from eleven of the best Latin and jazz musicians in New Zealand.
We spoke to Vivio about his drive to dance.
What is your dream car - and why?
"I love the Aston Martin cars as they are beautiful, classic and elegant."
Growing up in Guantanamo and then Havana, what was it like to live with all the vintage cars on the streets? Do you have any strong memories about those cars?
"For people living outside of Cuban, the 50s cars are very romantic but, for me, it was normal to see those cars everywhere while growing up, because there were no new cars coming into the country after 'the revolution' in 1959. The streets became stuck in time and Cubans had to create their own car parts to keep those cars alive. When you jumped into some cars, they smelt strongly of gasoline!"
Did you have a favourite car while growing up in Cuba?
"No, not really, in all honesty, I wasn’t into cars as a kid, I was just into baseball, boxing and dancing. Not much has changed!"
Vivio is a fully qualified dancer, teacher, choreographer and musician — and an early pioneer of Cuban dance and music in Aotearoa. He is formally trained in contemporary dance, ballet and Cuban folkloric traditions at Havana’s prestigious National School of Arts under some of Cuba’s master dancers and teachers.
What drives you to dance?
"All I need is a beat for dancing and that’s it! I don’t even need music, just the beat."
His career has taken him around the globe, performing in shows with prestigious dance companies like Danza Contemporanea de Cuba and Ballet de Camaguey.
Vivio was a principal dancer in the acclaimed show Lady Salsa, which toured internationally, ending up in NZ.
Once permanently based in Aotearoa, Vivio and his then-partner Greydis masterminded their own show Cuban Carousel, staging it in Auckland and around the country.
What do you feel after an amazing evening of dance with great people?
"Satisfaction and relaxation. And the next day, I’m off to the sauna to recover my muscles! I recommend this to all dancers!"
Since arriving in Aotearoa in 2002, Vivio has played a central role in growing the Cuban dance community.
Through his company, The Cuban Groove, he has taught thousands of students and trained many teachers across the country in authentic Cuban dance styles.
Known for his distinctive energy and artistry - Vivio has performed at national and international festivals, events, parties and shows, judged major salsa competitions, appeared on television and film, and participated in salsa competitions and community celebrations.
What workshops are you bringing to Tumbao 2025, Vivio?
"I'm teaching three exciting workshops you should definitely attend -
Afro-Cuban Technique – Dance From the Inside Out
Learn to dance from the inside out in this intensive Afro-Cuban Technique workshop. Through a series of exercises that explore muscle isolations you may barely have noticed before, you’ll prepare your body physically and mentally to approach Afro-Cuban styles with greater expressiveness.
You’ll also dive into the rhythms of Afro-Cuban music: how they’re built, how they interact, and how to recognise them on the dance floor. Expect to be challenged in coordination, stamina, and musicality — and leave with tools you can practise at home to strengthen your rhythm, alignment, and fluidity.
Vivio’s foundation in this method is serious: he spent a full year studying Afro-Cuban Technique at Havana’s National School of Performing Arts before beginning to learn Orisha and Rumba styles, so you’ll be learning techniques with true depth and lineage.
Cycle of Congo — Power, Rhythm & Roots
Step into the deep roots of Cuban dance with the Cycle of Congo. This workshop takes you through three powerful traditions — Palo, Makuta, and Yuka — each carrying the heartbeat of Cuba’s African heritage.
• Palo: Grounded, earthy, and spiritual — born in the Congo cabildos of Cuba, these movements channel strength and connection to rhythm.
• Makuta: Festive, vibrant, and communal — danced with energy and joy, Makuta rhythms build power through the body and spirit.
• Yuka: One of the oldest Afro-Cuban forms — playful, dynamic, and full of drive, Yuka combines drumming, song, and movement in an irresistible call-and-response.
This is a class of stamina and groove! You’ll build coordination, deepen your musicality, and feel how these traditions live on inside Cuban dance today. Get ready to sweat, connect, and celebrate the Congo roots that continue to shape Cuban culture.
Afro-Cuban Rueda
Get ready for a high-energy, open-level Rueda session drawing on all the Afro-Cuban dances you’ll have worked on over the weekend.
Vivio will teach Afro-Cuban moves (from Rumba, Orishas, Congo dances etc.) that can be woven into the Rueda structure — creating a flowing, coordinated circle that pulses with rhythm.
Fun, interactive, social, this class is about sharing dance, movement, and lifting each other up through group energy. Whether you’ve danced Rueda before or are exploring Afro-Cuban forms afresh, you’ll gain inspiration and ideas to take back out onto the dance floor."
You have five words - how do you convince someone to start dancing?
"I would ask the person if they want to live a healthier and longer life, then they should dance!”
In addition to teaching and choreography, Vivio is an accomplished musician. He leads Ke lo Ke and Vivio & Friends, two vibrant bands that bring together some of New Zealand’s finest Latin and jazz musicians.
Both groups have featured at major festivals, venues and events around the country, earning a reputation for infectious rhythms and high-energy performances.
The Cuban Groove’s mission, led by Vivio and his partner Justine, is to share the energy of happiness, health and friendship through Cuban music and dance — something he continues to do with passion at every opportunity.
They run Rueda classes - filled with styling from Afro-Cuban; Rumba; Cha Cha Cha and Son - on Wednesday evenings, in the Grey Lynn Library Hall, Auckland. Watch their Facebook page for fun pop-up classes during summer!
Find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thecubangroove
Or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecubangroove/
Or email cubanos@gmail.com
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