CUBA 50 Celebrating Cuban Culture  /  May 2019

All the latest cultural news from Cuba and events coming up around the UK

 
 

Don't miss Omara Portuondo in London on 28 July



For one night only - the multi-talented Cuban singer from Buena Vista Social Club, is joined by Cuban jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca to bring cubanía to life with an evening of expressive music, mixing traditional bolero with jazz and blues. Omara will perform songs from throughout her inimitable 70+ year career, in her own unique, effervescent style. A rare opportunity to see a living legend!


 

A visit to the Havana Art Biennial: 'construction of the possible' 

Despite all the odds, this Havana Biennial (12 April-12 May) has been magnificent. With the slogan, ‘construction of the possible’, the curatorial team, despite the increasing constraints of the US blockade causing delays and shortages of materials, have produced community based projects, interactive works, performances, as well as some challenging exhibitions and extended the unique and serious art projects way beyond the capital city. There are many works really engaging with ideas of work in progress, in process. 

 
 
 

ICAIC: 60 years of industry and art in Cuban film

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Cuban film institute ICAIC. It had an integrationist and decolonising outlook and made the yearning for a national film industry a reality in the early 1960s. This article considers different aspects of the industry, key films, key people, the music, animation, digital and independent filmmaking.


 
 

Tribute to the pioneer of Cuban contemporary dance, Ramiro Guerra

The Cuban dancer, choreographer and researcher Ramiro Guerra died 1 May in Havana at 96. He is recognised as one of the founders of the contemporary dance movement in Cuba, having founded the Conjunto de Danza Moderna then Danza Contemporanea de Cuba, and remembered for his transcendental works such as Suite Yoruba (1960). 

 

Promoting authentic Cuban design 

Following hot on the heels of the Havana Art Biennial, “Design beyond the form” is the second International Design Biennial of Havana (BDHabana’19), 20-26 May, and aims to help designers and design teachers and industries contribute for the benefit of society, to engage the public in design and to promote authentic Cuban design.


 
 
 
 

Watch the short film about the 'Behind the Wall' art project and other projects in the Havana Art Biennial




 

Buy Cuban coffee, honey, chocolate 

Fresh and rich Crystal Mountain coffee, beans and ground, direct from the Escambray mountains of centra Cuba, delicious honey from Matanzas and much more

 
 
 

EVENTS COMING UP

 
 

'Yuli' the Carlos Acosta story, on release around Britain NOW


We have brought you the trailer, the interviews, the awards and now finally the film itself is here! 

Based on Acosta’s autobiography No Way Home: A Cuban Dancer’s Story, the film follows his formative years in Cuba as dancer, his move to London and his relationship with his father, his family and his country. Check this link for screenings in your area.


 
 

This is Cuba: Documentary photography after Fidel, 29 April-14 June, London


Exhibition of contemporary documentary photography and its role in representing the country and people inside and outside the island. Showcasing work by world-renowned photographers including Cuban Raúl Cañibano and Michael Christopher Brown.  Curator’s tour 15 May. (Image above by James Clifford Kent).



 

Manana//Cuba x Jazz re:freshed, Sun 12 May, London


Manana//Cuba are forged on the belief that Cuba’s influential music, in particular its rhythms, enriches electronic music. In this one-off concert, technology and traditional instrumentation will come together to create new sounds as this collaboration goes above and beyond the constraints of genre classifications. Featuring prominent UK jazz and electronica artists YussefDayes, KevinHaynes, Sarah Tandy, PaulDolby aka Seiji and 

Space Afrika with Cuban musicians Adel Gomez, Feliciano Arango and Ariwo's Hammadi Valdes.


 
 
 
 

La Dame Blanche + Wara, Fri 17 May, London


Cuban singer, flautist and percussionist Yaite Ramos Rodriguez, aka La Dame Blanche, delivers a powerful and compelling sound strong enough to summon the spirits. Now based in Paris, her explosive mix of hip hop, cumbia, dancehall and reggae has been making waves around the world. Plus Wara bring their very own uncompromising mix, driven by the grooves of urban Havana. Part of FLAWA festival.


 
 

Omar Puente's Cuban Jazz Quintet + Yelfris Valdes, Thu 30 May, London 


Superlative Cuban jazz violinist, Puente has worked with the likes of Courtney Pine and Denys Baptiste and appears here at Ronnie Scotts with his own hard-driving, rhythmically lithe band. 

Same venue hosts separate late night concert of Grammy-nominated Cuban trumpeter, Yelfris Valdes presents his first solo project: 'For the ones...' a fusion of modern soundscapes and Afro-Cuban traditions.


 

Havana D'Primera at London SalsaFest,

Sat 22 June, London + Sun 23 June, Edinburgh

London weekender of Cuban dance workshops with 2 major live music shows including Cuban salsa timba big band Alexander Abreu & Havana D’Primera on Sat 22 June at London SalsaFest. Then Havana D'Primera will perform in Edinburgh on Sun 23 June.


 
 
 
 

Omara Portuondo: Omara Es Cuba – El Último Beso,

Sat 28 July, London

With an artistic career spanning decades, Omara Portuondo is renowned for popularising Cuban music across the world. For one night only she will showcase some of her finest musical work. Her gestures match her vast vocal range, inherited from the ‘filin’ way of singing which mixes traditional bolero with American-influenced blues. She will be joined by superb Cuban jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca.


 
 

Cuban All Stars Dance Festival,

2-4 August, Bournemouth

A weekend of dance classes from son to Casino Cuban salsa style, rumba to orishas, with great teachers including Cubans Enrique Perez, Damarys Farres and Juan Carlos Pacheco and many more, and evening parties to try out your new moves.


 

AcostaDanza: Evolution
11-12 November, Birmingham,
18-23 November, London

With its mix of ballet and contemporary dance, Carlos Acosta’s Cuban company brings a new programme, in which Acosta himself makes a guest appearance, which includes Paysage, Soudain, la nuit by visionary Swedish choreographer Pontus Lidberg; the iconic Rooster, choreographed by Christopher Bruce to music by The Rolling Stones; and a new work, Satori, by breakthrough Cuban choreographer Raúl Reinoso.


 
 
 

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