Born in Havana, José Francisco Barroso’s childhood was enveloped in Cuba’s rich artistic and spiritual environment. At a very young age Barroso was dancing the popular Cuban styles of son, casino, rueda, and rumba. Barroso describes these movements as an expression of everyday life in Cuba and as a symbol of the vibrancy of the Cuban people. As a teenager, Barroso competed and was recognized throughout Havana for his skills in the American forms of hip-hop and break dance. Literally discovered dancing on the street corner in Havana, Barroso was mentored by director of Cuba’s Compania Folklorica Raices Profundas, Juan de Dios Ramos, and rapidly began his journey and career in Afro-Cuban dance. Immersed in the dance and music tradition of his ancestors, Barroso delved ever deeper into the significance and roots of his culture. Today, director and choreographer José Francisco Barroso is regarded as among the foremost authorities on Afro-Cuban dance, music, and folklore.

Barroso has been honored as the Isadora Duncan Dance Award recipient (2006) and is the grateful recipient of various grants and awards, such as California Arts Council Artist-In-Residence Grant (1995-2001), ACTA Living Cultures Grant Program (2006) and numerous others. Barroso has held residency positions at several universities and colleges such as Stanford University, California State University Sacramento, San Jose State University, Humboldt State University, San Francisco State University, New College of San Francisco, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Laney College, and Mills College and continues teaching extremely popular classes for children and adults, in arts centers, private studios, community centers, and public schools.

Barroso continues to expand and exhibit his already impressive knowledge of Yoruba traditional practices by studying and collaborating with numerous Cuban and African masters of drum, dance and culture.