About us
About us
With us, you can look forward to courses that are exceptionally well-designed in terms of teaching methods and structure, as well as lessons conducted with a high degree of professionalism and meticulous attention to detail, all grounded in solid dance skills and knowledge.
We place great emphasis on personalized instruction in small groups, fostering your potential, creativity, and ability to improvise, and helping you develop and refine your sense of and understanding for the connection between dance and music.
Our Story
Sometimes, something new begins exactly where everything seemed to end.
Momento Cubano was on the verge of disappearing.
The pandemic had left its mark. The music grew quieter.
Fewer people came through the doors. The costs rising and the future felt uncertain.
At some point, it became clear:
this couldn’t go on.
The doors were about to close.
For many, that was the end.
But not for everyone.
Just before everything was lost, a small group came together.
No investors. No big plans. Just people who felt:
“We couldn’t just let this fade away.”
So they stayed. Together with other students, they stepped up.
They improvised. They organized. They fought for something they loved.
There were days when it wasn’t even clear if the doors could open the next morning.
And still…… they kept going. Step by step, something new began to to take shape.
Today, we are proud to be an official non-profit association -since March 2026.
We are growing. Slowly. Honestly. Together.
With every hour. Every course. Every new face.
Sometimes it feels like David vs. Goliath.
Sometimes the pressure feels like too much to carry.
But we‘re still here.
Because we stand together
Because our students believe in us.
Because our team gives everything — on every single day.
Momento Cubano is not just a place you visit.
It’s a place you instantly feel.
And maybe that’s exactly why…it’s still here.
Ibert
Ibert began his artistic career in 1986 at the Sociedad Provincial de Artes José María Heredia Heredia, focusing on modern dance and folk dance.
In 1989, Ibert continued his dance training at the renowned “Escuela Nacional de Arte” in Havana and was named the best dance student after just one year due to his performance in modern dance. In 1993, he completed his dance training at the “Instituto Nacional de Arte” as a dancer and dance instructor for modern and folk dance.
From 1994 to 2003, he worked as a “Primer Bailerin” (Principal Dancer) at the “Conjunto Folklórico del Oriente” in Santiago de Cuba and led numerous national and international dance courses and workshops during this time.
Even during his training, Ibert received various awards as a solo dancer in the fields of modern and folk dance—including the “Premio Coréografico” for best male performance—and, during his subsequent dance career, the “Gran Premio a Nivel Nacional” for best performance in modern dance and the “Premio” for best choreography.
In parallel with his work as a dancer with the “Conjunto Folklórico del Oriente,” he led dance classes for the Conexión dance school in Santiago de Cuba until 2002/2003. Residing in Frankfurt since 2004, Ibert worked until mid-2010 as a dance teacher, choreographer, and dancer at the Conexión dance school, of which he is a co-founder.
In 2011, he took another major step forward by founding his own dance school, momento cubano, in Frankfurt. When he opened his own studio in Frankfurt-Bockenheim in July 2015, a long-held dream came true.
More than a dance teacher – a life dedicated to dance.
Yahima
Yahima was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, into a family of musicians and dancers.
Yahima’s career as a dancer began with her training at the Escuela Vocional de Arte, which was a great privilege. After completing her six-year program, Yahima was hired by the Ballet Folclórico de Oriente, the oldest folklore dance company in Cuba. There, she was a permanent member for five years and passed the exam to become a Primera Bailerina Solista (principal solo dancer).
In addition to her work at the Folclórico, she taught and trained a group of young people and was a member of the Rueda de Casino group “Casino Punto Com,” where she danced for a year. During this time, she also began teaching tourists.
During this time, she had the opportunity to teach in France in 2009, and from then on was repeatedly booked as a dancer and dance instructor for numerous festivals in Germany, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
In addition, Yahima spent several years touring as a dancer with the group Fclan Entertainment for many show performances in Serbia, Austria, Poland, France, and Germany.
Yahima has been part of the momento cubano team since 2021, and we are thrilled to have her among us as one of the most spirited and humorous ambassadors of Cuban salsa and Cuban culture.
Franky
Franky came to Germany from Cameroon to study computer science.
Franky has been dancing hip-hop and Afro-Caribbean dances like salsa and bachata for quite some time. However, his heart beats especially for kizomba, semba, and afrohouse. He grew up with zouk love and developed an affinity for kizomba at an early age.
Franky learned kizomba from renowned teachers such as Kwenda Lima, Albir Roja, and Petchu. He draws inspiration from the “new style” from Paris, where he regularly works with other dancers.
Since 2016, Franky has been enriching our dance school with his kizomba and semba classes.
Kerstin
Kerstin began her dance journey at the tender age of three with ballet training. Her dedication and talent led her to successfully pass exams at the renowned Royal Academy of Dancing. Over the years, she gained extensive stage experience, particularly in ballet, theater, show dance, and guard dance.
When she discovered kizomba, it ignited a new passion within her that has never left her. She regularly participates in continuing education courses to find new inspiration and deepen her knowledge.
For Kerstin, dancing is more than just technique and perfection. It is the expression of emotions, a way to unfold one’s own personality and strengths, and to share joy and passion.
In 2020, Kerstin began an inspiring collaboration with Franky. They specialize in teaching musicality and imparting a deep understanding of weight transfer and leading to both the leader and the follower, without overthinking.
Their shared goal is to make dancing a harmonious experience.
Together, Kerstin & Franky teach throughout Europe.
Melanie
Melanie first encountered Latin American dances in 2015 during an internship in Spain. Over the following years, she discovered her passion for dancing through parties featuring merengue, salsa, bachata, and reggaeton, and eventually decided to make her new hobby a permanent part of her life. That’s how Melanie joined our dance school in 2021, initially to learn Cuban salsa and soon after the basics of other traditional Cuban dances in Ibert’s classes.
Since 2023, Melanie has been strengthening our team as a dance assistant and hopes to inspire her fellow students and class participants above all with her passion and love for dancing!
Julia
A few years ago, I did a lot of research before I started taking dance lessons, and I found that at Momento Cubano, the art of dance is taught with a particularly authentic approach. The atmosphere and the teachers’ demeanor simply drew me to this dance school. I watched a lot of dance videos featuring Ibert and his team, and the vibe just clicked.
My passion for Latin American rhythms began when I was 13, when I discovered the song “Obsesión.” What I love about dancing is moving to the music and blocking out everything else—it gives me a sense of freedom and makes me happy. I let the music guide me completely and dance intuitively. Like many in my generation, I draw inspiration from social media content.
I’ve been part of the momento cubano team since early 2024, developing my teaching skills as a classroom assistant, and I’m especially eager to support beginners as they take their first steps into the world of dance.
Maren
Maren brings 8 years of experience in a wide variety of dance styles to the table and has been part of our dance school since May 2025. Her dance journey began while she was living in South America for an extended period and led her through line salsa, bachata, and urban styles like hip-hop and street jazz, eventually bringing her to Salsa Cubana. After spending a long time enjoying Cuban social dance events, she began further honing her skills in the Cuban style through regular lessons in 2023. With her diverse experience and expertise, she brings plenty of energy and good cheer to our classes.
Pierre
If there’s music, Pierre is on the dance floor.
If the sun is out, you’ll find him on the golf course.
And when things slow down, he enjoys a game of billiards.
Movement, precision, and a love for people –
that’s what connects his hobbies and his role in the association.
At the very beginning, he was simply in the right place at the right time –
but more importantly, he didn’t hesitate.
He stepped in, took responsibility,
and helped build Momento Cubano together with the team.
Pragmatic, reliable, and always ready to take action,
that’s exactly what defines Pierre.
With his open personality, energy, and sense of humor,
he brings fresh momentum –
making sure that structure and community go hand in hand.
Jeany
Jeany brings her passion for dance to life – mostly behind the scenes.
With calm determination, she turns ideas into reality
and ensures that nothing gets lost along the way.
She was part of the very beginning of the association,
helping to build it step by step – without big words, but with real impact.
Grounded, reliable, and with a natural feeling for people,
she is one of the pillars of Momento Cubano.
Rosanna
Rosanna´s Leidenschaft für Bachata Dominicana wurde 2018 auf einer Tanzreise in die Domenikanische Republik entfacht und hat sie seitdem nicht wieder losgelassen. Sie vertieft ihr Wissen und Können regelmäßig durch Workshops, Kurse, Festivals und Tanzreisen.
We place great emphasis on personalized instruction in small groups, fostering your potential, creativity, and ability to improvise, and helping you develop and refine your sense of and understanding for the connection between dance and music.
Justina
Justina moved to Frankfurt from Lithuania in 2023 and immediately immersed herself in Frankfurt’s Bachata Dominicana community!
Justina began dancing in 2014 at the Salsa Sisters dance school in Vilnius, Lithuania. She started with salsa and was introduced to bachata and kizomba at a salsa festival in Vilnius, where she fell in love with both dance styles and the music. In the years that followed, she participated in various international and local events to improve her skills and gain a deeper understanding of salsa, bachata, and kizomba (including semba, konpa, and merengue).
Finally, Justina spent six months in the Dominican Republic, where she learned bachata and merengue from the locals and immersed herself in Dominican culture.
That’s why, with Justina, you’ll learn authentic, traditional Dominican bachata, which radiates a real zest for life.
Aside from dancing, Justina can help you plan trips to the Dominican Republic and recommend which dance trips are wor
Pierre
Board of Directors
Jeany
Board of Directors
MelaniClick Heree
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Melanie first encountered Latin American dances in 2015 during an internship in Spain. Over the following years, she discovered her passion for dancing through parties featuring merengue, salsa, bachata, and reggaeton, and eventually decided to make her new hobby a permanent part of her life. That’s how Melanie joined our dance school in 2021, initially to learn Cuban salsa and soon after the basics of other traditional Cuban dances in Ibert’s classes.
Since 2023, Melanie has been strengthening our team as a dance assistant and hopes to inspire her fellow students and class participants above all with her passion and love for dancing!
Ibert
Ibert began his artistic career in 1986 at the Sociedad Provincial de Artes José María Heredia Heredia, focusing on modern dance and folk dance.
In 1989, Ibert continued his dance training at the renowned “Escuela Nacional de Arte” in Havana and was named the best dance student after just one year due to his performance in modern dance. In 1993, he completed his dance training at the “Instituto Nacional de Arte” as a dancer and dance instructor for modern and folk dance.
From 1994 to 2003, he worked as a “Primer Bailerin” (Principal Dancer) at the “Conjunto Folklórico del Oriente” in Santiago de Cuba and led numerous national and international dance courses and workshops during this time.
Even during his training, Ibert received various awards as a solo dancer in the fields of modern and folk dance—including the “Premio Coréografico” for best male performance—and, during his subsequent dance career, the “Gran Premio a Nivel Nacional” for best performance in modern dance and the “Premio” for best choreography.
In parallel with his work as a dancer with the “Conjunto Folklórico del Oriente,” he led dance classes for the Conexión dance school in Santiago de Cuba until 2002/2003. Residing in Frankfurt since 2004, Ibert worked until mid-2010 as a dance teacher, choreographer, and dancer at the Conexión dance school, of which he is a co-founder.
In 2011, he took another major step forward by founding his own dance school, momento cubano, in Frankfurt. When he opened his own studio in Frankfurt-Bockenheim in July 2015, a long-held dream came true.
More than a dance teacher – a life dedicated to dance.
Yahima
Yahima was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, into a family of musicians and dancers.
Yahima’s career as a dancer began with her training at the Escuela Vocional de Arte, which was a great privilege. After completing her six-year program, Yahima was hired by the Ballet Folclórico de Oriente, the oldest folklore dance company in Cuba. There, she was a permanent member for five years and passed the exam to become a Primera Bailerina Solista (principal solo dancer).
In addition to her work at the Folclórico, she taught and trained a group of young people and was a member of the Rueda de Casino group “Casino Punto Com,” where she danced for a year. During this time, she also began teaching tourists.
Yahima came to Germany through a dance student and continued her work as a dance instructor here. From 2007 to 2019, Yahima worked at the Conexión dance school both as a dance instructor and as a dancer.
In addition, Yahima spent several years touring as a dancer with the group Fclan Entertainment for many show performances in Serbia, Austria, Poland, France, and Germany.
Yahima has been part of the momento cubano team since 2021, and we are thrilled to have her among us as one of the most spirited and humorous ambassadors of Cuban salsa and Cuban culture.
Franky
Franky came to Germany from Cameroon to study computer science.
Franky has been dancing hip-hop and Afro-Caribbean dances like salsa and bachata for quite some time. However, his heart beats especially for kizomba, semba, and afrohouse. He grew up with zouk love and developed an affinity for kizomba at an early age.
Franky learned kizomba from renowned teachers such as Kwenda Lima, Albir Roja, and Petchu. He draws inspiration from the “new style” from Paris, where he regularly works with other dancers.
Since 2016, Franky has been enriching our dance school with his kizomba and semba classes.
Kerstin
Kerstin began her dance journey at the tender age of three with ballet training. Her dedication and talent led her to successfully pass exams at the renowned Royal Academy of Dancing. Over the years, she gained extensive stage experience, particularly in ballet, theater, show dance, and guard dance.
When she discovered kizomba, it ignited a new passion within her that has never left her. She regularly participates in continuing education courses to find new inspiration and deepen her knowledge.
For Kerstin, dancing is more than just technique and perfection. It is an expression of emotion, a way to develop one’s personality and strengths, and to share joy and passion.
In 2020, Kerstin began an inspiring collaboration with Franky. They specialize in teaching musicality and imparting a deep understanding of weight transfer and leading to both the leader and the follower, without overthinking.
Their shared goal is to make dancing a harmonious experience.
Together, Kerstin & Franky teach throughout Europe.
Rosanna
Rosanna’s passion for Bachata Dominicana was sparked in 2018 during a dance trip to the Dominican Republic, and it has never left her since. She regularly deepens her knowledge and skills through workshops, classes, festivals, and dance trips.
We place great emphasis on personalized instruction in small groups, fostering your potential, creativity, and ability to improvise, and helping you develop and refine your sense of and understanding for the connection between dance and music.
Justina
Justina moved to Frankfurt from Lithuania in 2023 and immediately immersed herself in Frankfurt’s Bachata Dominicana community!
Justina began dancing in 2014 at the Salsa Sisters dance school in Vilnius, Lithuania. She started with salsa and was introduced to bachata and kizomba at a salsa festival in Vilnius, where she fell in love with both dance styles and the music. In the years that followed, she participated in various international and local events to improve her skills and gain a deeper understanding of salsa, bachata, and kizomba (including semba, konpa, and merengue).
Finally, Justina spent six months in the Dominican Republic, where she learned bachata and merengue from the locals and immersed herself in Dominican culture.
That’s why, with Justina, you’ll learn authentic, traditional Dominican bachata, which radiates a real zest for life.
Aside from dancing, Justina can help you plan trips to the Dominican Republic and recommend which dance trips are wor
Maureen
Maureen started dancing when she was 8 years old. At the time, ballroom and Latin dances—and especially music video-style dancing (hip-hop, pop, R&B)—were all the rage, and she loved it so much that dancing became an integral part of her life.
When she was 16, Maureen spent a year in Mexico (on a student exchange program). That’s where her love for Latin American music and the Spanish language—which she speaks fluently—began. She was particularly drawn to salsa, so years later she learned Cuban salsa firsthand from professional instructors in Cuba.
When she was 16, Maureen spent a year in Mexico (on a student exchange program). That’s where her love for Latin American music and the Spanish language—which she speaks fluently—began. She was particularly drawn to salsa, so years later she learned Cuban salsa firsthand from professional instructors in Cuba.
In June 2024, Maureen took over the organization of the dance classes.
Julia
A few years ago, I did a lot of research before I started taking dance lessons, and I found that at Momento Cubano, the art of dance is taught with a particularly authentic approach. The atmosphere and the teachers’ demeanor simply drew me to this dance school. I watched a lot of dance videos featuring Ibert and his team, and the vibe just clicked.
My passion for Latin American rhythms began when I was 13, when I discovered the song “Obsesión.” What I love about dancing is moving to the music and blocking out everything else—it gives me a sense of freedom and makes me happy. I let the music guide me completely and dance intuitively. Like many in my generation, I draw inspiration from social media content.
I’ve been part of the momento cubano team since early 2024, developing my teaching skills as a classroom assistant, and I’m especially eager to support beginners as they take their first steps into the world of dance.
We place great emphasis on personalized instruction in small groups, fostering your potential, creativity, and ability to improvise, and helping you develop and refine your sense of and understanding for the connection between dance and music.
Julia
A few years ago, I did a lot of research before I started taking dance lessons, and I found that at Momento Cubano, the art of dance is taught with a particularly authentic approach. The atmosphere and the teachers’ demeanor simply drew me to this dance school. I watched a lot of dance videos featuring Ibert and his team, and the vibe just clicked.
My passion for Latin American rhythms began when I was 13, when I discovered the song “Obsesión.” What I love about dancing is moving to the music and blocking out everything else—it gives me a sense of freedom and makes me happy. I let the music guide me completely and dance intuitively. Like many in my generation, I draw inspiration from social media content.
I’ve been part of the momento cubano team since early 2024, developing my teaching skills as a classroom assistant, and I’m especially eager to support beginners as they take their first steps into the world of dance.
We place great emphasis on personalized instruction in small groups, fostering your potential, creativity, and ability to improvise, and helping you develop and refine your sense of and understanding for the connection between dance and music.