Search - Ballet Folklorico Cutumba de Santiago de Cuba :: Ritmos Cubafricanos Volume 1 - Ballet Folklorico Cutumba with Jose Carrion

Ritmos Cubafricanos Volume 1 & 2 began as an informal project initiated by the Academy of Cuban Folklore and Dance in Seattle, WA. When teaching abroad, Jose found it difficult to find musicians versed in the lesser-known rhythms heard primarily in the Oriental regions of Cuba. Therefore, we decided to invite into the studio a special group of friends & family - the musicians and singers of Ballet Folklorico Cutumba de Santiago - to help us record & preserve some of this music in its traditional form. Our original idea was to use these recordings as an accompaniment for José's folkloric dance classes when live percussion was not possible. After listening to them, we realized that they would also serve as excellent study guides for students of both folkloric percussion and dance. And... for those who want to just listen and enjoy... ache! Recorded in Santiago de Cuba, 2005. The Ballet Folklorico Cutumba is undoubtedly one of Cuba's most vibrant folkloric dance companies. Based in Santiago de Cuba in the Oriente province of eastern Cuba and founded in 1960, Cutumba performs Afro-Cuban-Franco-Haitian dance and music with a special focus on preserving the rich heritage of the region. Rich vocal music peppers the repertoire, which includes the captivating Orisha dances honoring the divine beings of the Yoruba pantheon. The jubilant Haitian dances, that are now part of the cultural heritage of eastern Cuba, include the sensuous gaga and the tajona, with its precision choreography of interlacing ribbons building to a frenzied climax around the maypole. Deeply rooted in popular Cuban culture, rumba dance and music was generic to the African slaves in the western part of Cuba. Cutumba has recreated the rumba cycle according to its traditional forms - yambu, guaguanco and columbia, each with its distinctive steps and rhythms. From the world famous Santiago de Cuba Carnival celebration, the spectacular Conga Santiaguera with its blaze of color, complex polyrhythms & sensual movements, has the entire audience up on their feet & dancing. Cutumba has been touring extensively since 1991 to venues and festivals in Europe, New Zealand, the Caribbean, South America, Canada and the U.S. They first toured in the U.S. as part of Festival Cubano in Philadelphia in 2001. In the spring and fall of 2002, Cutumba performed in the DanceAfrica festivals at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Columbia College Chicago. In each city, the public performances were part of multi-week residencies. Under the directorship of Idalberto Bandera Sido, this 55-person dance troupe continues to train & perform on a regular basis in Cuba. Although Cutumba's theater, Teatro Oriente, is currently under restoration, the company can soon be seen practicing in their new venue - La Galaxia - on most weekday mornings. For information on CDs, DVDs, workshops & performances, please visit the Academy of Cuban Folklore and Dance website or take a look at our video clips on YouTube.