Cybele Pena has been working as a dance teaching artist for 19 years. She currently teaches for Culture Shock Dance Center, Isadoranow, Arts for Learning San Diego, Bocón, the Facility Dance Studio, and now, transcenDANCE. She has been dancing all of her life and is inspired by all forms of movement as well as the way culture, life, history, tradition, and nature help to cultivate dance styles. She considers herself to be a lifelong student of dance and life and has spent many years learning about Latin American and Caribbean dance, training both locally and in South America. She credits much of her dance to her Afro Cuban teacher and mentor of many years, Juan Carlos Blanco (Afro Cuban master teacher) and gives thanks to all those who have taught her traditional dance forms. She sees dance as a critical tool for education reform and social justice.