Tea Dances at the Glorya Kaufman Community Center

The Wende Museum’s Tea Dance series invites you to move, mingle, and unwind through the joyful rhythm of social dance. Hosted in the Glorya Kaufman Community Center, each session features different dance traditions, ranging from Argentine tango to vintage swing, led by local artists and dance instructors. No experience or partner required.

Tea dances originated in early 20th-century Britain and America as daytime socials, often held in hotels and ballrooms, offering live music, light refreshments, and a welcoming space for community connection. Revived in the queer communities of mid-century America, the tradition evolved into a vibrant celebration of expression and belonging.

In that spirit, our Sunday Tea Dances offer a space to unplug, connect, and move together. These afternoons are for everyone: curious beginners, practiced dancers, and people just looking to enjoy good music and warm company.

Come for the class, stay for the social, and rediscover the art of togetherness.

Free and open to all. Comfortable shoes are encouraged.

May 17 Details
Teacher: Mari Garcia

Maria Garcia, Chilean-born and Miami-raised, is motivated by the stories of Latine people, culture, and communities. She first joined CONTRA-TIEMPO as a teaching artivist in 2021, when she saw her own values of community, love, culture, and boldness, align. As an artist and teacher, authenticity, confidence, freedom and connection are at the root of her being. Salsa and Bachata are dance forms in which Maria feels most free and liberated. Maria earned her BFA from the University of Florida, where she was a Choreographer in Residence at the HARN museum. She then taught a salsa course at Los Angeles Valley College.

Band: Los Calicubanos

Los Calicubanos is a high-energy Afro-Cuban/Latin jazz/salsa ensemble from Los Angeles, blending the rhythms of Cuba with the vibrant spirit of Southern California. Led by bassist Dr. Erim Kardes, the seven-piece band delivers electrifying sets of original tunes and classic covers that ignite dance floors and captivate audiences. Erim discovered Cuban music while earning a Ph.D. in Engineering at USC, where he also studied jazz bass under Weather Report’s Alphonso Johnson. This fusion of academic rigor and musical passion gives the band its edge—tight, grooving, and deeply authentic. Los Calicubanos is a staple of the SoCal Latin music scene and regularly collaborates with artists in Havana, Cuba, where they also record and perform.

As this event takes place during museum open hours, guests may check in at the front of the museum. The garden side gate will open 30 minutes before the start time and is available for ADA access and check-in. Theater doors open 15 minutes before the start time. An RSVP does not guarantee admission once capacity is reached. No late entry.