Recorded in Santiago de Cuba in 2006, features the most outstanding members of the internationally renowned Ballet Folklorico Cutumba, one of Cuba s most vibrant folkloric dance troupes. Berta Arminan's intoxicating renditions of Yemaya have entertained live audiences around the world & her magnificent essence is finally captured in this recording. Cantante Ernesto Arminan, choreographer of Cutumba & artistic director of the Tropicana Santiago, pays homage to his santa Ochun, in this soul-stirring, original interpretation. Rafael Cisnero s voice is unmistakable as he sings, spontaneously & straight from the heart, to Eleggua & Chango. The percussionists are truly virtuosos. Ramon Marquez, Cutumba's musical director, is featured along with Rolando Gomez & Diango Sanchez, the 3 of whom have played together in folkloric representations & religious ceremonies for many years. Yoanis Carrion, Cutumba's youngest musician, is following faithfully in the footsteps of his teachers. This recording was produced with the idea of helping students of Orisha dance to deepen their understanding of the music & develop more confidence & independence. The tracks consist of commonly heard toques with clearly defined transitions. For example, Eleggua follows a very simple progression from La Topa to Ynongo to Chachalokuafun. After learning the distinct steps & figures of each toque, dancers can develop their own choreographies and thoroughly enjoy danzando para los Orishas. 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 look for our videoclips on YouTube.
