Havana Dance Center Celebrates Its 19th Anniversary with Special Performances

The Havana Dance Center (CDH) will celebrate its 19th anniversary from August 1 to 3 at the Covarrubias Hall of the National Theater of Cuba. The festivities, directed by dancer and CDH director Guillermo Kerton Contreras, will feature an exciting showcase of premier dance companies associated with the center. These include Flamenca Ecos, directed by Ana Rosa Meneses, and Ballet Rakatán, led by Nilda Guerra.

Flamenca Ecos will perform key pieces from its active repertoire, while Ballet Rakatán will present the solo work NON, performed by Cinty Caraballo, as stated in the official press release.

Audiences can also look forward to Alma, the latest creation by choreographer Rafael (Carburo) Olivera, performed by soloist Viti Cabrera. This piece explores movement inspired by the music of Rodrigo Sosa and Roberto Fonseca. Alma is part of the repertoire of the Dance and Performance Experimentation Group, which is directed by Santiago Alfonso, the recipient of the 2006 National Dance Award.

Additionally, the celebration will feature members of the Creative Cell Artes NEXOS, a Cienfuegos-based company led by dancer and dance studies student Víctor Cabrera Soriano from the University of the Arts of Cuba (ISA). The company will present several works: Enigma by young performer Alaín Núñez, Calle 2 by Pavel Delgado, Amori Mortín, and the premiere of Viernes para un bailarín, which is inspired by the music of pianist Aldo López-Gavilán—an original creation by Cabrera Soriano himself.

Rounding out the program is the Raíces Profundas Folkloric Company, which will perform excerpts from its recent production Medio Siglo, featuring choreography by Alvin Hernández and artistic direction by Idolidia Ramos.

These performances mark the culmination of a celebratory season that began on July 24 with La rumba del Prado. During this period, companies affiliated with the CDH have engaged in community outreach, open rehearsals, and performances in neighborhoods surrounding their headquarters.

Founded on July 28, 2006, the Havana Dance Center is dedicated to promoting the artistic development of dance in Cuba’s capital. The center is committed to rescuing, preserving, and programming creative dance processes at both national and international levels, with a special emphasis on the cultural heritage values that define this art form.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez