DCPS Fifth Graders Visit the Cuban Embassy

“Welcome to the Embassy of Cuba. As you enter the door, you are stepping on Cuban soil,” explained David Ramirez (Second Secretary in Charge of Public Affairs) to the class of fifth graders from DCPS Harriet Tubman Elementary School.  

On April 9, 2024, 17 students and their teachers took a field trip to the beautiful early 20th-century building on 16th Street in Washington, D.C. The visit was part of a partnership with the school through the DCPS Embassy Adoption Program. Tubman teachers Susannah Schantz and Suzannah Danforth, along with their students, have collaborated throughout the year with embassy staff to bring lessons on Cuban culture and geography to the fifth-grade class. 

On their arrival at the Embassy — walking distance from their school and just over a mile up the street from the White House — students received formal greetings from the ambassador, Lianys Torres Rivera.

Their visit focused on a lesson about the music and dance of Cuba, which has African and Spanish roots. They saw slides and listened to samples of various kinds of music from Cuba’s cultural heritage that are recognized by UNESCO. They learned that one of the most internationally famous songs, Guantanamera, is based on a poem by Jose Marti (whose statue is outside the Embassy.) Sonia Hernández, a member of the Cuban Embassy, explained that folk singer Pete Seeger loved the song and introduced it to generations of children in the United States. Only a handful of students appeared familiar with the music and dances discussed, but they did not hesitate to try out the dance steps in the next portion of the program.  

Ramirez introduced Adrian Valdivia, teacher and soccer coach at Columbia Heights Education Campus (CHEC). He is also the co-founder and co-director of D.C. Casineros, an organization that showcases Cuban music and dance. Valdivia got the students out of their chairs to practice danzon, cha-cha-cha, mambo, and salsa. While moving their feet, they heard the music of many famous Cuban performers, such as Los Van Van. 

After dancing, students headed to the Hemingway Room (named for writer Ernest Hemingway, who had a house in Cuba), where they had Cuban snacks and chatted with other Embassy staff. Before departing, they took a group picture on the steps of the entranceway. 

The culminating activity is on May 22. The students will perform for Embassy staff at the Embassy of Cuba. While travel is restricted from the U.S. to Cuba for tourism purposes, this program helped create a bridge between the two countries.