OUR FOUNDERS
Cubanisms was founded in the USA in 2016 by Dálida T. Pupo Barrios (Cuba) and Michael McClintock (USA). The couple met in Cuba in 2013, fell in love and decided to start a new period of their lives in the USA, where they got married in 2015. During the spring of 2023, they relocated to Paris, France.
THEIR BACKGROUND
Dálida, has a bachelor's degree in Global Economics and 19 years of experience in the economics and business field. Her first job was at the Ministry of Economics of Cuba. Later, she founded the International Sales Department for Cuban Radio and Broadcast services while working for RTV Comercial. She also worked doing market research for this company in Spain. Before moving to the USA, she performed as the Executive Representative in Cuba for Ingeniería del Arte, a Spanish company operating with the Ministry of Culture of Cuba, in charge of Cuban Art Exhibitions in Cuba and around the world. During her years in the USA, she focused mainly on developing Cubanisms and its services. After moving to France, she continued expanding Cubanisms, now offering cultural trips and productions between the 3 countries. Dálida also started in 2023 a new career in the real estate field in Paris, France.
Michael, has a bachelors degree in Classical Guitar Performance and 17 years of experience in the music career. McClintock has performed with several projects throughout the U.S. His post studies have been focused on Flamenco, Jazz and Brazilian music. Since 2014 he has been intensively studying Cuban music and the Cuban Tres (native Cuban guitar) in his several visits to the island, gaining a lot of acceptance in Cuba, being also recognized as one of the best foreign masters of the Cuban Tres in the world.
HOW THE PROJECT STARTED?
In 2015, the couple decided to work together and develop a cultural project that could contribute to bringing more awareness towards Cuban culture in general and, connecting people to Cuba through music and cultural visits to the island. After moving to France in 2023, they decided to expand their cultural project, now facilitating the cultural connection of the populations of what they consider their 3 home countries, Cuba, USA and France.
EVOLUTION
Dálida has taken almost 20 groups to Cuba. The feedback received from the visitors and, the Cuban families and private businesses, who have enjoyed and benefited from the connections, has been extremely rewarding.
Michael has directed his Ensemble with his Cuban Tres since July 2016. The band gained great recognition in the Midwest and was invited to perform in Havana, Cuba in January 2019 at the Jazz Plaza International Festival. The band's two albums "Acento Cubano" (2017) and "Trilingual" (2019) have received great compliments from Cuba, Colombia, and the USA. Michael was nominated "Best Musician" and, Cubanisms "Best Band", during the years 2018 and 2019, by the Pitch and KC community. After relocating to France, Michael is planning on releasing original compositions and continue promoting the Cuban culture and music through his performance of the Cuban Tres instrument.
OTHER CULTURAL INVOLVEMENTS
Dálida and Michael were Cuban Commissioners for the Ethnic Enrichment Commission of Kansas City since December 2015 until April 2023 when they relocated to France.
Michael has also developed his solo career, is part of many other musical projects, and has established himself as a Guitar/Cuban Tres instructor, with in-person and online lessons. His YouTube channel focused on Music Instruction has gained great global acceptance. More information on his website HERE.
