Home - The Breath of Cuba

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Here you can learn about the The Breath of Cuba books, an American woman’s personal story of her adventures in Cuba.

You can also find info on The Breath of Cuba Cuban Salsa Dance School in Martin and St Lucie Counties, Florida.

A cultural immersion experience awaits you in the pages of this website. The Breath of Cuba is a story spanning more than a decade of the author’s life. From her first trip to Cuba, through years of living and traveling there to study the culture, the music and dance, to finding herself back in her home town and marrying her Cuban dance partner, professional dancer, Yusell Garcia, the story shares the spirit of Cuba, and the determination of one little woman to keep dancing and building her dreams through life’s ups and downs.

The Breath of Cuba is now becoming a growing global community of dancers and friends. Cheri and Yusell teach weekly Cuban Salsa Casino and Rueda classes in Martin and St Lucie Counties, and also offer special Cuban themed events and entertainment. Keep posted as the story continues, and some of the gaps are filled in from the CoVid years as Cheri begins to redevelop this page and work on the third book.

*Best Seller on Amazon: The Breath of Cuba (El Aliento de Cuba) is also available in Spanish. Get your copy on Amazon, in Spanish or English.

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The Breath of Cuba books are Available Now on Amazon!

This is a story about Love...

Not the kind of love between a man and a woman.

Nor the kind of love between a mother and a child.

It’s not the kind of love that leaves you lost and abandoned.

No, it is not the kind of love that makes you wither and die.

But this is a story about Love...

It’s the kind of love that knows no boundaries.

It’s the kind of love that spreads out far and wide.

It’s the kind of love that reaches up to the heavens.

It’s the love that comes from the deep seed inside.

This is a love story that transcends human romance through the realm of the romance of life. It takes you into the heart of Cuba through one woman’s love of magic, music, community, culture, and passion.

Sensual, Provocative, Thought Provoking.

Inspiring, this story touches on so many heart strings from cultural, to deeply personal. Part I is just the warm up for Parts II and III. The Trilogy tells the story of healing, transformation and personal growth while going deep into the magical mystery of Cuba’s culture, music and dance.

Amazon Reader

“One can read for a bit and then close the eyes and imagine what it would be like to experience the tidal flow and the heartfelt beat so well portrayed in Cheri’s passion for writing.
Check it out if you dare to look at things a bit differently.”

David Varonin

What a great read! I felt like a got an inside view of Cuba! What an amazing adventure, both culturally and personally…sensual, spiritual, feminine & empowering! Highly recommend it!

Amazon Customer

Excellent story of the mysteries and spiritual passion revealed in Cuba. A woman’s story of reclaiming her own power and knowing her deepest self through the music, dancing, and drumming that is part of everyday life for Cubans. A beautiful telling of the people and culture that is ancient and robust. A must read.

Ali J

This is a story for anyone searching for their own authentic self. Cuba has always been a place of mystery for me and now I know I must go to experience it for myself.

Animata

“I just read Breath of Cuba. I love the way Cheri describes the wind. The love affair she had with the wind and with herself. Oya is what they call the wind in Cuba. The way Cheri describes Cuba with an innocence is important. It is important people get this. She completely gets it.I enjoyed going on this journey with her and look forward to being able to read Part II and breathe in “The Breath of Cuba” once more.”

Jeanie Williamson

I thoroughly enjoyed reading my paper copy of The Breath of Cuba! Every time Cheri Shanti dares to discard another layer, and peels off, sheds, ditches, elements of her North American cocoon and breathes into the much freer and more liberated Afro-Cuban way of being. I celebrate with her! She’s sharing her path of adventure in this book! Whoever you are… you can get yourself a copy of this book and celebrate too!”

Cameron Powers

“Can I just say that I just read the very beginning of your book. Down to Single Woman Bliss- and I have goosebumps. I FEEL your passion and love. I have goosebumps because reading some of those words– I feel some of the same things pulsing through my whole body. I am so hungry for more. More of the book and more of Cuba, that is. Beautifully written. I am so excited to be reading this. Thank you thank you thank you!”

Corazon Kilgo

“I love the fact that the story is not about getting the love from others but finding it within yourself. I think it is provocatively sensual and thought-provoking. It makes us all want to live a richer life, full of possibilities.”

~ Kristina Sutcliffe

“I love it! The way you write it just makes me want to continue to read more and more. I can visualize what you are talking about from both my own experience being in Cuba and also from my exposure to different cultures and traveling. Well done Cheri!”

~Ewket Assefa

Hello. My name is Cheri Shanti. I am the author of “The Breath Of Cuba.” I invite you to explore this website and blog for a small taste of my adventures on the magical island country of Cuba.

My blog has actual excerpts from the books as well as stories and updates on Cuba, Cuba Travel and how Americans can travel to Cuba. If you want to learn more about Cuba Travel, I recommend you get my 10 Tips Every Traveler to Cuba Should Know here and keep reading for more info on the blogs.

The Breath of Cuba traces a journey through the mysterious and deep world of the female psyche with a constant backdrop of magic, music, and men. Cheri writes candidly and sensually about her experiences living in a culture that while not her own, makes sense to her in many ways.

The Breath of Cuba is also a timely cultural snapshot of a culture at the brink of change. The story brings the flavor of Cuba alive and celebrates it’s rich cultural heritage in a way that few other books on Cuba will because of the intimate connection Cheri created with the people through coming there as a student of their music and culture.