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AFRO-CUBANO TERM
Nearly 1 million Africans from West and Central Africa were captured by Cuba's Spanish colonists and brought to Cuba during the 16th through to the 19th centuries.
As Cuba's plantations expanded in the late 18th and 19th centuries, so did the slave trade. Most enslaved Africans in Cuba were Yoruba from Nigeria.
In the Cuban religion of Santeria, the Orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. They rule over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. They recognise themselves and are recognised through their different numbers and colors which are their marks, and each has their own favorite foods and other things which they like to receive as offerings and gifts. Each of the Orishas has a specific dance or set of movements and music associated with them.
We would like to introduce to you the beauty of the dances seeped in historical significance,
Afro-Cuban Dance. Most of the dances are from the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria These dances originate from Yoruba traditions imported by enslaved Africans into Cuba . These slaves were controlled by the spanish and were forced to speak Spanish and convert to Christianity. In order to preserve their native religious traditions, the slaves gave their African dieties the names of Christian saints and thus continued to worship them. This religion is known as Santeria, and under disguise, many religious rituals, dances and musical traditions from Africa were preserved. Santeria is still practised in Cuba today.
Afro Cubano dance brings life to these Orishas (saints) - Eleggua, Oggun, Oshun, Chango, Yemaya, Arara, Obatala, and many others.
Music , Dance and Courses available –Cuban folk Dances
Contradanza, Danza ,Danzon ,Son, Mambo, Cha cha cha, Pilon, Mozambique Origins of Casino (Cuban Styling)Courses available –Cuban folk Dances
MAMBO
Created in 1938 by the “Maestro”Orestes Lopez with the “thumArcano y sus Maravillas”orchestra as a “Danzon Mambo”. After that Mambo was created definitively by Damaso Perez Prado. In 1947 he made it popular in Mexico accompanied by Jazz Bang, giving it a new rhythm. This Dance was created in the Cabarets, where the women dancers wore cabaret dresses that when moving the hips produce a sensual and sexy movement, and men follow them moving their pelvis. Everybody danced this musical folk dance.
CHA-CHA-CHA
Created in 1951 by the “Maestro “Enrique Jorin with the “American Orchestra”. This music style was very popular in the fifties, and remains so today. It is particularly useful to improve fluency in women dancers. It is a partner dance that contains several figures and turnings to embellish the dance. Famous musical numbers are: “La Englinadura”, El Alardoso “ and “Olga La Tamalera”.
SON
Son comes from the mountainous regions of Cuba, from the rural areas. Son arrived in Habana City in the 1920’s, due to the internal migration of sugar cane workers. It is an original dance that devirves it’s from folk music. In the Eastern most part of Cuban Son was known as “Changui2, and in “Isla de la Juventud “it was called “Sucusucu” and in Habana “Son Habana”. Son increased in popularity greatly between 1920 and 1940 having a great effect upon all of the popular Cuban dances.
RUMBA
A Spanish work which Cuban ancestors choose to name to their interpretations though rudimentary instruments and songs. This type of dance has three forms, "Yambu”, "Guaguanco” and “Colombian”. A pair dance were the woman and man represent theatrically different occurrences from their everyday lives.
With “Yambu” and “Guaguanco” the rhythm is slightly faster as are the movements. It is characterised by the actions the man carries out towards the woman, known as “Vacunao”, a movement the man carries out towards the pelvis of the woman. “Columbia” which is only danced by men, demonstrates all the virtues of the dancers: agility, capability and skill in carrying out all movements.
AFROCUBAN DANCE
This dance represents the different god’s of the “Panteon Yoruba “. These Dances involve many pelvic and torso movements.
CASINO (CUBAN SALSA)
This dance came about in Cuba at the end of the 1950’s. It was only danced by white people who lived in the east of Habana City. This style of dance was carried out in Casinos, thus it’s name. Over the years it has undergone different changes, it has elements of Rock and Roll, Cha-cha-cha, mambo, son and other rhythms created in Cuba. It is really a combination of all the Cuban Popular Dances.
If you would like to be taught any /all of the above dances, either one to one or a group, please contact:
TEACHER: ARIEL RIOS ROBERT
SPECIALITY: CHOREOGRAPHY OF CUBAN AND AFROCUBAN POPULAR DANCES
RUEDA DE CASINO.
PHONE: 07944338979
E-MAIL: niurko24@yahoo.es A Spanish work which Cuban ancestors choose to name to their interpretations though rudimentary instruments and songs. This type of dance has three forms, "Yambu”, "Guaguanco” and “Colombian”. A pair dance were the woman and man represent theatrically different occurrences from their everyday lives.
With “Yambu” and “Guaguanco” the rhythm is slightly faster as are the movements. It is characterised by the actions the man carries out towards the woman, known as “Vacunao”, a movement the man carries out towards the pelvis of the woman. “Columbia” which is only danced by men, demonstrates all the virtues of the dancers: agility, capability and skill in carrying out all movements.
PALO
These Dances involve many pelvic and torso movements.Palo, Makuta and Yuka came from the region of Congo west Africa Bantu religion
In the Cuban religion of Santeria, the Orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. They rule over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. They recognise themselves and are recognised through their different numbers and colors which are their marks, and each has their own favorite foods and other things which they like to receive as offerings and gifts. Each of the Orishas has a specific dance or set of movements and music associated with them. Most of the dances are from the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria These dances originate from Yoruba traditions imported by enslaved Africans into Cuba. These slaves were controlled by the spanish and were forced to speak Spanish and convert to Christianity. In order to preserve their native religious traditions, the slaves gave their African dieties the names of Christian saints and thus continued to worship them. This religion is known as Santeria, and under disguise, many religious rituals, dances and musical traditions from Africa were preserved. Santeria is still practised in Cuba today. Afro Cubano dance brings life to these Orishsas (saints) - Eleggua, Oggun, Oshun, Chango, Yemaya, Arara, Obatala, and many others.
Ariel is highly skilled and knowledgeable in these traditional Cuban dances
He will be conducting this workshop in Afro-Cuban Orisha dances. It is a fantastic opportunity to learn with a talented and highly regarded artist and trained teacher of dance. He is the director of the Cojunto Folklorico of the University of Havana, and trained at the National Arts Instructor’s School for teachers-in-training. He has performed and choreographed for internationally renowned companies including the National Ballet of Cuba, Isadanza and Yoruba Andabo. His company, The Cojunto Folklorico of the University of Havana, was awarded first prize in the National University Festival 3 times. He has also 9 years experience of teaching Afro-Cuban dance to students visiting Cuba. |
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