Juan De Dios

Raices Profundas Director: Juan De Dios Ramos Morejon

Professional History

Juan De Dios began his artistic life at a very young age–by his recollection in 1945.  In 1955, his career path starts to be documented, when he joins Conjunto Musical Gavilan.  Between 1956 and 1962, he performed with a variety of groups including Conjunto Primavera, Conjunto de Gales and Grupo Sicamirie to name a few.

His status as a professional artist was made official in 1959, when he had to perform 42 shows to be evaluated at the National Syndicate of Performing Artists (SINTAE), under Alberto Alonso and Sonia Calero. He passed, and was officially approved as a rumba soloist performer in the areas of dance, vocals and percussion. He performed in many public venues, including Cabaret “El Nicho”, La Taberna De Pedro, Pompilia, El Chori, El Pensilvania, Isora Club, El Club De Los Munequitos, Ali Bar, El Nacional De Prado, Moroco, Club, Via Blanca, and Teatro Marti.

In 1962, the Cuban National Council of Culture (CNC) opened the invitations to create Cuba’s National Folkloric Ensemble (Conjunto Folclorico Nacional), to represent the country as the best of this genre (like the National Ballet does). Juan participated in the auditions and passed all tests made by the evaluation board. From that moment he was named one of the  “founding members” of the Ensemble, where he would play the roles of principal dancer, professor, vocalist, percussionist and choreographer.

A list of some of the countries he toured and important festivals he participated in can be found at the end of this biography.

He earned his university degree through the National Council of Culture and the University of Havana, and he continues his reading and investigative studies even today.

During his years at the CFN, he also participated in additional specialized training programs:
1963- Choreography training Program with Mexican Professor Rodolfo Reyes Cortes
1964- CFN Acting Training Program
1965- CFN Stage Manager Training Program
1967- CFN Costume Design Training Program
1981- CFN Choreography Training Program by Professor Ramiro Guerra
1984- CFN Choreography Training Program by Professor Ramiro Guerra

In 1975 he founded his own folkloric performing ensemble named “Conjunto Folclorico Raices Profundas”, which he continues to direct to the present day.  (You can read more about Raices Profundas’ history on their About page)

Juan’s tireless energy and talents as a teacher and director coupled with his profound knowledge of Cuban cultural traditions led the group to notoriety and acclaim as one of the most authentic performing ensembles conveying Cuban identity through artistic expression. Juan is the recipient of a vast array of awards of recognition and artistic achievement. He highly revered as a pedagogue and is a major influence in conserving and maintaining Cuban cultural traditions.

From 1962-1987, Juan toured with the CFN to many countries including: 

France, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, Spain, Romania, Holland, Sweden, Argelia, Guyana,Jamaica, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Canada, Guatemala, Venezuela, and the United States.

International Events & Festivals with CFN:

1964- Paris Theater & Dance Festival, at the Sarah Bernhart Nations Theater, France
1966- 6th Latin American Festival at La Habana, Cuba
1972- Carifesta 72, Georgetown Guyana
1973- Folkloric Festival at the 6th Conference of Non-Aligned Countries
1973- Journey of Cuban Culture in the USSR, Moscow, Leningrad & Riga.
1974- 2nd International Festival Cervantino de Guanajuato, Mexico
1974- Festi-Danza 74, Araquipe, Peru
1974- 12th Central American & Caribbean Sport Games, Santo Domingo DR
1974- Jeux d’suteame 1975 et 30 ’eme Fetes Internacionales de la Vique, Dijon, Francia
1975- L’Humanite festiva, Paris France
1975- Cuban Dance & Thearer Panorama, La Habana Cuba
1976- International Folkloric Festival, Bellingham UK
1977- International Folkloric Festival, Burga, Bulgaria
1978- Ballet Festival, La Habana, Cuba
1978- 11th World Youth & Students Festival, La Habana Cuba
1978- 6th Cervantino International Festival, Guanajuato Mexico
1979- Carifesta International Caribbean Festival, La Habana Cuba
1980- CFN United States Tour
1981- CFN Belice Tour
1982- CFN Venezuela Tour
1984- CFN Italy Tour
1984- CFN Canada Tour