As Bob Dylan once sang ‘There was music in the cafés at night and revolution in the air’ – beware Monaco, the revolt starts now, Cuban style.
Take 18 talented dancers from Cuba and an eight-piece live band, add a touch of classical music combined with a mixture of hip hop, Latin beats, mambo and contemporary dance, without forgetting, of course, a dose of acrobatics and even martial arts, and you have yourself the recipe for one of the most talked about ballet companies of the moment, one that has revolutionized the world of dancing. Say hello to Ballet Revolución.
Choreographed by Australian dancer and original Tap Dog star, Aaron Cash, and one of Cuba’s most talented ballet creators, Roclan Gonzalez Chavez, the show is designed as a snapshot of the island with its vitality, sensuality and passion.
This is not as a political piece however. After all, given its name, one could have indeed thought that the company would make reference to Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and the Cuban revolution. Instead it prefers to remain neutral and to offer a real dancing bonanza that captures the main aspects of Cuban life. Split Jumps, pirouettes and pas de deux, acrobatics, energetic choreography and slower numbers, salsa, jazz and electrotango, you have it all.
And if there is no storyline or plot to tie all the pieces together, the eclectic mix of dance styles provides for an original celebration of movement and grace with the help of a medley of global pop hits that include the likes of Beyoncé, Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, Prince and Jennifer Lopez.
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Since its debut in Australia in 2011, the company has been bowling over audiences all over the world, from Sydney to Singapore and from Vienna to London. This June, the principality of Monaco welcomes this “ballet with an attitude” for a three day sojourn.
So this summer, even if you cannot jet away to Cuba, you can at least feel the pulse of the island and enjoy one of the most exiting dancing experiences of the moment.
Ballet Revolución plays at the Grimaldi Forum from the 20th to the 22nd of June, at 8:30 pm. Tickets cost from €31 and may be reserved online.
CONTACT DETAILS
Grimaldi Forum
10, Avenue Princess Grace
98000 Monaco
Tel: +377 99 99 20 00
All images courtesy Ballet Revolucíon Facebook page
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