Dance has always been very important part of Cuban art. Dance art first arose in Cuba in XVI century when slaves from western regions of Africa were brought in this country. But contemporary dance is relatively new development. Its beginning can be referred to 1959; this year Ramiro Guerra created National Modern Dance Group (in Spanish language: Conjunto Nacional de Danza Moderna) existing nowadays. Guerra worked together with company of legendary American dancer Martha Graham in New York. Under her influence he brought Conjunto's style (Mexican music) into Cuban dance. This moment is also starting point of theatricalised dance development in Cuba.

Dance has special meaning for Cuban people; its part of their cultural, religious, and social life as well as historically important art kind. Prominent Cuban dancers and choreographers manage to tell in dance about dramas, feelings, joy, and doubts.

Contemporary dance in Cuba generally can be described as mixture of Afro-Caribbean dancing, contemporary American theatre, truly Cuban dance, classical European ballet and Conjunto.

In spite of short history of contemporary Cuban dance this art has got great achievements and made unique and significant contribution into the world dance art.

One of the most prominent Cuban dancing companies is Retazos (Havana). It plays important role in revitalizing of dancing culture in Cuba and involving common people into artistic creation. This dance theatre achieved fame all over Latin America.

One more original studio of contemporary dance is Danza Contemporanea de Cuba directed by genius choreographer Miguel Iglesias expressing real Cuban spirit in its art. About 60 professional dancers work there, some of them found their own small dancing studios, theatres and companies. This dancing collective gathers packed audience in Europe, Asia America, and Africa.

Nowadays Cuba accounts for over fifty dance companies and studios. Among them: Danza Espiral (1987), Teatro de la Danza del Caribe (1988), Compania Rosario Cardenas de Danza Combinatoria (1990), CoDanza (1992), Danza Fragmentada (1993), Danza Voluminosa (1996), Compania Santiago Alfonso (2007). And new bright Cuban dance companies are continuing to be founded showing huge love of Cuban people to dance.