Cuba Mourns the Death of Dancer Alfredo O’Farril

The National Folkloric Ensemble today lamented the passing of Alfredo O’Farril Pacheco (Papá Shangó), a recognized artist, premier dancer, teacher, choreographer, and an indispensable figure of that prestigious institution and of Cuban culture.

For more than three decades, O’Farril (77) dedicated his life to the dance arts, becoming a benchmark of Cuban folkloric dance, an example of rigor, talent, and love for the traditions of our identity, stated a post on the National Folkloric Ensemble's Facebook site.

His dedication on stage and his mentorship in the classroom trained several generations of dancers and teachers, the text emphasized.

In addition to his work as a premier dancer, the National Dance Award winner (2024) was a professor at the University of the Arts and a tireless promoter of African roots in Cuban dance.

"Today we say farewell to a consummate artist, a man of the people and of culture. His legacy will endure in every drum, in every movement that evokes the force and spirituality of Cuban folklore," the statement signified.