Cuba’s National Folkloric Ensemble Tours the Western and Central Provinces

Throughout April, the National Folkloric Ensemble of Cuba is carrying out the first leg of its nationwide tour, a key event in the commemorative program marking the centenary of Lázaro Ros.

The provinces of Pinar del Río and Cienfuegos have already welcomed the acclaimed ensemble, now in its sixth decade, as it presents Comunidad, its latest critically acclaimed production.

The company performed at the Teatro Milanés from April 11 to 13, and at the Teatro Terry from April 18 to 20. A special performance is scheduled for April 29—International Dance Day—in Santa Clara’s Leoncio Vidal Park, featuring an excerpt from the celebrated work, according to Digna Rosa Pérez Morejón, the ensemble’s public relations officer.

Under the artistic direction of young dancer and choreographer Leiván García Valle, each stop on the tour includes theoretical and practical exchanges with local dance groups that are deeply committed to preserving traditional and popular culture. These sessions also involve teachers and students from the national arts education system.

Comunidad—winner of the Milanés Prize from the Hermanos Saíz Association and the Villanueva Critics’ Award from the Cuban Writers and Artists Union—is an original choreographic piece by García Valle, inspired by Demonios sobre césped cortado, a book by young author Daymí Diéguez.

A standout feature of the production is its music, composed by renowned Cuban pianist Alejandro Falcón. Falcón also performed during the piece’s premiere last May at the Avellaneda Hall of the National Theater of Cuba, alongside the National Choir of Cuba and the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra.

Comunidad also pays tribute to the Congo Cycle, a foundational influence skillfully championed by the Ensemble in its early years during the 1960s.

Its debut was particularly moving, fostering an intergenerational dialogue with legendary figures from Cuban culture—many of whom have been closely connected to the company since its inception—including National Dance Prize laureates Alfredo O’Farrill and Johannes García, master Domingo Pau, and celebrated singer “Peky Pérez,” lead vocalist of the JJ Traditional Dance Company.

Although these esteemed guests will not join the touring cast, their presence will be felt in every performance.

With this tour, the company embarks on a new chapter—one that renews its ties with audiences, institutions, and fellow artists across the country.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez

Photo: Cuba’s National Folkloric Ensemble on Facebook