By Brigitt Mayer
Here’s my take on this beautiful experience, as it appeared in Dance Beat May 2014. Download the article as a PDF file by clicking the “download” button under the video.
The Cuban Experience #1
Report by Brigitt Mayer
A Journey Begins
I did not know what to expect. The format was unusual, and I did not know who would be there besides the experts that were announced in the publications. I just trusted my friend and colleague Barbara Nagode Ambroz!
She has been going to Cuba now for more than 20 years, asking me many times to come along, and it never panned out. Well, this time it did, and I was rewarded with a truly fun and exciting experience.
Barbara’s Vision
So what happened there in Cuba? What was Barbara’s vision?
“For a long time, I have dreamed to organize a workshop in Havana… and the dream came true,” Barbara said.
“I wanted to share a real Cuban Experience in an authentic learning environment with my colleagues and students.
The purpose of the workshop was to acknowledge the musical and dance heritage of Cuba, to learn from the underlying philosophies, and to apply the discoveries to competitive Latin-American dance styles.”
Music, Dance & Discovery
On the first day, after meeting all the participants, we started off with a city tour that led us to the Museo Folclórico de La Habana. There we got our first introduction to the folkloristic, religious, and musical background of the Cuban people and their dances – and also a first taste of Dr. Alen Olavo Rodrigues’ passion for musicology.
At the end of the museum tour, a group of folklore dancers and musicians demonstrated what we had heard during the tour. That was it – the dancers got unleashed! What followed was the first of many dance-jam sessions throughout the trip. You had to be there to completely understand ☺.
We danced in the streets of Havana, in front of La Bodeguita del Medio, Ernest Hemingway’s favorite bar, where the Mojito was created for him. We strolled through the narrow streets, taking it all in. The first Cohiba Espléndidos were purchased and smoked ☺.
That evening there was more music and dancing outside the Teatro Mella, where the performance was to take place on Saturday.
Authentic Rumba, Cha-Cha-Cha & More
We learned about authentic danzón, son, mambo, cha-cha-cha, and rumba guaguancó and, for more fun: salsa rueda de casino, where pairs of dancers form a circle with moves called out by a leader. Many involve hand signs and partner swaps. This originated in Havana, traveled through Miami, and spread to the world.
Tony Meredith and Nadia Eftedal taught about Mambo New York style the way it was danced at the Palladium and today. Our Cuban salseros had a blast with that one – fast and furious!
Every day Dr. Rodrigues spoke to us about music and dance: how everything came to be through African slaves of the Spanish and later French colonists, the development of the cha-cha-cha, and Pérez Prado’s mambo that nobody wanted in Cuba at first. Too much to disclose here – and his enthusiasm was absolutely contagious.
Rehearsals & the Big Show
Three intense days of “Cuban infusion” followed, with authentic dances and music. The ladies without partners danced with Cuban professionals who were there the entire time – what a difference!!! Their enthusiasm, singing, and happy disposition were wonderful.
Slowly but surely, everything was fused into a big stage show with group numbers and solos by ballroom dancers from around the world and Cubans alike.
Barbara was greatly assisted by Ruud Vermeij and Max Winkelhuis, as well as participants who helped organize music. Siscu Pérez from Spain became the Emcee in the theatre. The local audience, likely exposed to our style for the first time ever, welcomed us with great enthusiasm and seemed impressed by the skills and form of the International Style Latin dancers.
Solos Performed By
- Juan Osvaldo Cuevas & Omari Veranes (Santiago de Cuba, both 81 years old) – danzón
- Michael Malitowski & Joanna Leunis (England) – rumba & cha-cha-cha international style
- Tony Meredith & Nadia Eftedal (USA) – West Coast Swing & Mambo
- Lenny Gouwerok & Laura Zmajkovicova (Hong Kong) – Paso doble & Pro/Am rumba with Monica Wong
- Ageo & Rosa (Havana, Cuba) – son
- Justas & Jekaterina Kucinskas (Lithuania) – Latin showdance
- Ahmed & Miresi (Havana) – Cuban cha-cha-cha & authentic mambo
Dancing Beyond the Stage
Both groups – Cubans and internationals – were influenced by each other. You could sense the appreciation and respect, and you could see dancers teaching each other moves on the sidelines. This continued onto the beach, where we spent our last day.
Competitors from Europe wanted to learn more about West Coast Swing, so Tony and Nadia were busy teaching in the sand!
The last night, we invited Barbara to the hotel nightclub. Secretly, we had ordered a cake and champagne to celebrate the first birthday of the Cuban Experience and to thank her for putting all this together. It was no easy task under a socialist regime where things work differently… I am sure Barbara could write a book about that experience.
I just hope she enjoyed it too – because we are all looking forward to CUBAN EXPERIENCE #2!
The Cuban Experience – Team of Experts
- Prof. Dr. Ruud Vermeij
- Maximiliaan Winkelhuis
- Jorge Amado Pérez Machado
- Prof. Graciela Chao Carbonero
- Silvina Fabars
- Moraimo Bravo
- Dr. Alen Olavo Rodrigues
- Tony Meredith
- Nadia Eftedal
- Barbara Nagode Ambroz
