Susana Arenas Pedroso began her dance career at age 12 when she began study at the Casa de la Cultura in Matanzas, Cuba. Upon completion of studies in Matanzas, Susana moved to Havana and joined popular, folkloric, and theater dance troupes, including Tierra Virgen, Alafia Ire, Oche Olorum, and Oriki. In addition, she was a soloist for Compania Folklorica Raices Profundas, and has performed and taught in the US and Europe, including in 1999 at ODC in San Francisco, with the electrifying Ban Rra Rra of Guantanamo, Cuba. Susana taught at the 5th Annual Exploration in AfroCuban Dance & Drum, at Humboldt State University, and offers classes in popular and folkloric Afro-Cuban dance at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts in Richomond, at Dance Mission in San Francisco, and at The Beat in Berkeley, CA.

From 1998-99 she was co-artistic director and principal dancer in Owo Ache, a company created by Carlos Aldama, renowned Cuban folkloric artist and founding member of Cuba's Conjunto Folklorico Nacional. Owo Ache made numerous appearances, including in the 1999 SF Ethnic Dance Festival. She is currently Artistic Director and choreographer of the all female dance troupe Obini, founded in 1998. In combination with other prominent performers, she performed with Alafia in the full length production "Mosaico" at ODC in May, 2000. In People Like Me 2001 she performs with her ensemble entitled Olorum, with eight of the finest Afro-Cuban dancers and musicians from the Bay Area and beyond.

Olorum will present "Wemilere," which brings spiritual and mythic entities from Afro-Cuban cosmology, known as Orishas, to our stage. Each Orisha exhibits unique attributes and personalities in their dance movements. Personification of such natural elements as the nurturing ocean mother, the turbulent wind, lightning and fire, and the sweet water of the river are danced to intricate batá drum rhythms and a chorus of song, filling the stage with their powerful presence.

First Appeared in People Like Me 2001