• Submitted by: admin
• Arts and Culture
• Caribbean
• culture an traditions
• Dance
• Destinations
• Europe
• international
• Spain
• 06 / 03 / 2009

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Following the first presentation at the José Monleón theatre of the José Saramago Cultural Center, located in the Leganés municipality of Madrid, the show entitled ´La raíz y el tiempo’ (Roots and Time) has been well-received by the public and critics alike in La Coruña, Valencia, Albacete, Lugo, Pontevedra, Vigo, the Portuguese Villa Real de San Antonio and other Spanish and Portuguese cities, further demonstrating the top artistic values of the Cuban company.

Critic Leopoldo Centeno, of the news daily La Voz de Galicia, wrote: "The work of this Cuban group is not only limited to their public performances, but also their research work and their constant travels all over Cuba, learning about dances, music and the customs and traditions of each and every region, which they add to their repertoire and offer it to the public. This is something we have had the opportunity to witness, as well as their hard work turning popular traditions into classic art expressions, without losing their idiosyncrasy.

“An excellent, praiseworthy work offered to capacity audiences night after night, what started as a ‘spring of water’ was later turned into a river of crystal-clear water, renewed with the group’s contributions, to satisfy the expectations of people with a great feeling for traditional art.”

“The staging –he added- is of high artistic and aesthetic value. The choreography includes both traditional dances and ballet –the work of several prestigious Cuban choreographers, who contribute their own styles and languages to enrich the show and make it more varied.”

The ‘El Faro de Vigo’ for its part, reported that “thanks to Cocon-cogueando, the audiences were delighted with a show that included dances, singing, and particularly the Cuban conga”. They also wildly applauded two rumbas, the ‘Rezo a Obatalá’ and a final dance, which combined religious and profane art, ballet and street dances.”

Other reviews focus on the artistic work by Manolo Micler, Santiago Alfonso, Isidro Rolando, Francisco González, Lizt Alfonso and Alberto Méndez, all of them contributing their own aesthetic and artistic styles. Traditional art combines with contemporary performing arts, giving birth to a folkloric event full of totally different musical and dance styles.

(Cubarte)