Salsa in Groningen
Groningen runs a small but very Cuban scene around El Son Cubano, the school of Cuban teacher Jorge Gómez Silverio. Salsa Cubana, son cubano, and Afro-Cuban forms like yoruba, arará and congo all sit in one programme — almost unique in the Netherlands.
6 upcoming events in Groningen
The agenda
- SUN20.0917:00 — 21:00
Sunny Salsa Sunday
Huis de Beurs · GroningenDirections - SUN27.0919:00 — 23:00
Groninga Social Club
Odd Fellowhuis · GroningenDirections - SUN25.1017:00 — 21:00
Sunny Salsa Sunday
Huis de Beurs · GroningenDirections - SUN22.1117:00 — 21:00
Sunny Salsa Sunday
Huis de Beurs · GroningenDirections - FRI27.1120:30 — 02:00
Eindeseizoensfeest Cariño
de Loods · GroningenDirections
Places where you can regularly dance Cuban salsa in Groningen:
- El Son Cubano studio
Cuban salsa in Groningen — what you need to know
For dancers in the north of the Netherlands, El Son Cubano in Groningen is the steady fixture. Jorge Gómez Silverio is a Cuban teacher whose curriculum covers salsa and son cubano alongside Afro-Cuban folkloric traditions (yoruba, arará, congo) — a unique offering in the country. The school runs a ladder from beginners to level 4 and advanced, so you can grow for years. The scene itself is compact: most socials happen in-house after class or through partnerships with regional dance organisations. Groningen is far from the Randstad, so locals tend to be committed and stick with the same group for years — which keeps the community tight. For occasional bigger events, dancers head to Leeuwarden (Fueguito, Fuego Festival) or take a weekend trip to Amsterdam.
What makes El Son Cubano special?+
The combination of salsa Cubana with traditional Afro-Cuban dances (yoruba, arará, congo). No other Dutch school offers this so explicitly.
Are there regular Cuban parties in Groningen?+
Not weekly like Amsterdam. Expect a handful of socials per month via the school plus regional events in Friesland (Leeuwarden) or Drenthe.