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AfroCubaWeb
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 Photo Gallery Percussion Workshop, Tumba Francesa, Gaga, and Vodu, 3/24, Los Angeles
Haiti in Cuba by Susan Hurlich |
Ban RrarraBan Rrarra is a truly great Haitian roots group originally from Oriente and now based in Havana. They have a very strong show and are heavily into their traditions. Seven members of Ban Rra Rra completed their first tour in the United States in September,1999. They toured California and the Mid-west and were well received by audiences and critics alike. The group is currently rehearsing and making new costumes in preparation for their upcoming tour of the US in the winter of 2001 in collaboration again with ODC Theater of San Francisco and Dimension Dance Theater of Oakland. This incredible group of dancers and musicians, originally from Guantanamo via Havana will arrive in the US in mid January, 2001 for their first ever performances outside Cuba. Many participants in Caribbean Music & Dance workshops over the last six years have been delighted by their performances and folkloric dance workshops. BAN - Band or group of people organized with a determined outcome.
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REPETOIRE FOLKLORE: Gagá - One of Ban Rra Rra’s most expressive choreographies, competitive in nature, it is marked by exuberant, erotic dances and agile use of colorful banners, fire sticks and machetes. In the piece Dos Bandas (Two Gangs), the dancers in red challenge the dancers in blue to more difficult feats of strength and courage. Tumba Francesa - The Franco-Haitian "society dance", where the upper class mulattos in the late 19th century would imitate the ruling class of that epoch. These formally dressed couples dance to very complex and intense drumming and Creole singing. Tajona - A tall pole bedecked with hanging banners; dancers performing a series of interweaving steps about the pole braid the banners. Then in a flurry of jumping, twisting, diving and spinning it is unwound again. Conga Santiaguera - Santiago’s style of Carnival dance or Comparsa, featuring the Coroneta China (Chinese Trumpet), a unique percussion ensemble and wildly costumed or masked dancers. Chancleta - One of the most famed Carnival dances where the rhythms of the dancers feet and hands are amplified by the Chancletas (wooden sandals). The dancers challenge each other and do call and response with the sounds from their Chancletas. Papa Guedé - a dance of the dead performed by men and characterized by erotic movements. Rumba - (Guaguaco and Colombia) invented on the docks of Havana and Matanzas, derived from African rhythms and characterized by percussion, call and response singing and dancing. Yoruba - the dances and rhythms of the Orishas, the spirits and saints of the Cuban religion of Santeria. TRADITIONAL: Son and Chamgüi - Guantanamo is considered to be the birthplace of the traditional Cuban sounds of Son and Changüi. These genres are the predecessors of modern Salsa. Ban Rra Rra performs and teaches all manifestations of these styles which feature the Cuban tres (a guitar like instrument) and the Marimbula. Pregones - traditional songs sung by vendors offering merchandise to the public. These songs are partly sung and spoken using improvisation to sell their wares. POPULAR: Ban Rra Rra has choreography for all the popular dance styles including Salsa, Cha Cha, Mambo, and Merengue. They also perform and teach Casino de Rueda (like Square dancing to Salsa). |
AFROCUBAN PERCUSSION WORKSHOP
with
Fernando Brooks Videaux
master percussionist on tour with Ban Rra Rra and instructor from the Escuela
Nacional de Arte of Cuba
Learn the Cuban-Haitian rhythms from the Oriente region of Guantanamo:
Tumba Francesa, Gaga, and Vodu
Saturday, March 17
Saturday, March 24
Noon to 3 PM
$6.00
A program of Stage Of The Arts, Inc.
AfroCuban Research Institute
help at the Ramona Hall Community Center as part of the Power of Music Workshop
led by Robertito Melendez
and
dedicated to the education & preservation of AfroCuban rhythmic
traditions
4580 N. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California
From the 5 freeway take the 110 fwy to Pasadena and exit right away on Avenue 43; go over the bridge, turn right onto Figueroa. Ramona Hall is a couple of blocks on your right.
| Aug. 21 | Afro-Cuban-Haitian Folkloric with Isaias Rojas Ramirez, Artistic Director of the acclaimed Cuban dance company Ban Rarra | 8-9:30 PM | ODC Theater 3153 17th St. San Francisco 415-863-9834 |
Class Prices: 1 for $15 |
| Aug. 22 | Rueda de Casino/Popular | 8-9:30 PM | ||
| Aug. 23 | Afro-Cuban-Haitian Folkloric | 8-9:30 PM | ||
| Aug. 24 | Rueda de Casino/Popular | 8-9:30 PM | ||
| Aug. 25 | Afro-Cuban-Haitian Folkloric | 8-9:30 PM | ||
| Aug. 26 | Rueda de Casino/Popular | 3-4:30 PM |
BAN RRA RRA TOUR 2001 The following performance dates are secure.
Probable workshops at Occidental College, UCLA World Arts & Culture, Cal Arts, Cal State LA. In the San Francisco Bay Area; ODC Theater, Dimension Dance Theater, Rhythm & Motion, La Peña, and Caribbean Music & Dance are planning a series of Performances & Workshops. We are still looking for gigs to fill out the schedule. We are also looking for help & sponsors in the following areas:
Check out http://www.salsablanca.com and http://www.salsasf.com/banrra.html
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| Ban Rra Rra is back in Southern California Performances: Friday 8/27 The New Century Club The show will begin promptly at 9PM Admission is free to see Ban Rra Rra Sunday 8/29 The African Marketplace ON THE CARIBBEAN STAGE Workshops Unity Arts Center
Thurs 8/26 Folkloric Dance 7:30-9:30 Gaga & Carnival $15
SAN DIEGO Wed 9/1 & 9/2 at SOUL BEAT Wed9 9/1 6:30-8PM Folkloric Dance Workshop Thur 9/2 6-7:30PM Popular Dance Friday 9/3 8PM Performance at SUSHI Check out http://www.salsablanca.com for updated schedule |
Ban Rrara dance workshop in Tucson, Arizona August 20 - 23. For information contact the Sovereign Arts Society, Inc. (520) 327-3663
| The Sovereign Arts Society is presenting a three-day workshop in Afro-Cuban Haitian dance and percussion as well as Rueda de Casino. The workshop is in Tucson, Arizona August 20 - 22 with a concert on the Aug 21 at the Rialto Theatre. For more information call (520) 327-3663. |
| BAN RRA RRA The renowned Afro Cuban dance and music group, specializing in Cuba's Oriente province's traditions, is back! BAN RRA RRA CUBAN PARTY FUNDRAISER SATURDAY JULY 3 3:00-8:00pm??? Casino Rueda Class at 4:30 RUMBA----DESCARGA----CHANGUII 1466 WESTERLY TERRACE LOS ANGELES (from hollywd fwy EXIT at Silver Lake Blvd, go north 1 mile, turn left at Berkeley, & left at Westerly) Thomas Guide: p. 594, C-6 JULY CALENDAR Thursday, July 1: PERFORMANCE 9 pm at Zabumba Restaurant, 10717 Venice Blvd., WLA 310-841-6525. This will be an exciting view of the Oriente region's Haitian influences and traditions including Gaga, Vodzn and La Tajona as well as of contemporary Cuban dances from Salsa and Merengue to Chang|i and Son. Saturday, July 3: MASTER CLASS IN FOLKLORIC DANCE 11 am -1 pm at the Unity Arts Center, 2332 W. 4th St., LA. The Haitian influenced folkloric dances Gaga and Vodzn will be featured. Ban Rra Rra musicians will play live for the class. Tuesday, July 6: MASTER CLASS IN POPULAR DANCE 7 - 9 pm at the Unity Arts Center, 2332 W. 4th St., LA. Recreate the lively Conga lines and Comparsas of Santiago de Cuba's famous carnival. Cuban Rumba will also be taught. Thursday, July 8: POPULAR DANCE CLASS 8:30-10 pm at Zabumba Restaurant, 10717 Venice Bl, WLA 310-841-6525. First in a 4 part series on Salsa Cuban style. Loosen up and learn the Cuban way to express yourself. Ban Rra Rra will show the sensual moves and footwork Habaneros are dancing today. D.j. Saoco will be spinning the latest sounds from the island starting at 10. Friday, July 9: PERFORMANCE *** 8PM At the Century Club, 10131 Constellation Blvd., Century City. Sundays, July 11, 18 and 25: POPULAR DANCE CLASSES Early evening at Zabumba Restaurant, 10717 Venice Bl, WLA 310-841-6525. These classes will cover Salsa Suelta (dancing in a line), Son (dancing "on two"), Cha Cha Cha, and Rueda de Casino. Dance party with d.j. Soco after class. Tuesday, July 13: MASTER CLASS IN RUEDA DE CASINO 7 - 9 pm at the Unity Arts Center, 2332 W. 4th St., LA. Learn the calls and moves for the Cuban craze which salseros are dancing from Miami to San Francisco and LA. Luis will keep it fast paced and fun. Prerequisite: you must know how to "Da me una". Private lessons available in dance, percussion and songs $45/hr. $25/hr. for semi-private. More events to come, for updates call 310-305-7085 or connect to www.salsablanca.com mcherash@ucla.edu Check out <http://www.salsablanca.com> |
The folks at SalsaBlanca.com are planning to bring up Ban Rrarra in the spring of '99. Contact them at www.salsablanca.com for details and for updated schedule. The group has gotten their visas and so are expected soon.
Received 5/1
| Ban Rrarra arrived in California on May 9th. Plans are for them to be in the Los Angeles area for about 2 weeks for workshops & performances. See Schedule in LA and SF. Stay tuned for details. After May 21 they will travel to the San Francisco Bay Area. Workshops will be at Rhythm & Motion and also somewhere in the East Bay. Performances will be at La Peña on June 12 & ODC Theater June 18,19 & 20th. Other venues in the Bay Area will be Dimension Dance Theater & Alice Arts Center. Yacelis Sanchez, the lead dancer with Ban Rra Rra will be teaching at the 4th Annual Exploration in AfroCuban Dance & Drum Jul 10-22, '99 Humboldt State University,Northern California There are still dates open for workshops & performances. We are also exploring the possibilities of some workshops in the Mid-West and the Pacific Northwest. Please contact us at info@salsablanca.com or mcherash@ucla.edu Later, Mike |
| After many trials & tribulations 8 members of the folkloric dance
group from Guantanamo, Cuba will be arriving in California this coming weekend. There is
no time to set up or promote their folkloric show. They will return to Southern California
later in the summer for that. What follows is a schedule of events in Los Angeles and San
Francisco. HAVANA STYLE CASINO RUEDA May 13th Zabumba popular dance 10717 Venice Blvd 9PM 5$ & folklore show Venice 310-841-6525 May 14th The Dance Collective Folkloric Dance Workshop 4327 Degnan Ave 630PM - 830PM $12 Liemert Park "1st come, 1st served" May 15th Zabumba Casino-Rueda Workshop 11AM May 16th Moro Landis Dance Studio Folkloric Dance Workshop 10960 Ventura Blvd 1PM-2:30PM $20 Studio City (cross street Vineland) May 16th Ramona Hall Folklore & Popular Dance Show 7:30PM 4580 Figueroa St Donations Accepted Highland Park 323-276-3021 May 17th Terraza Los Altos Night Club Casino-Rueda Workshop 4746 West Imperial @ Inglewood 7PM $20 City of Hawthorne May19th Demo/performance "Movement of a Choreographer" Los Angeles Theater Center An exploration of African, Caribbean 514 S Spring St & Latin dance performances Los Angeles Complimentary Admission Reservations 310-273-1319 May20th UCLA Folklore Workshop UCLA students only. May 20th AfroCaribe demo/performance Yoruba House 310-838-4843 3264 Motor Ave LA(n of national bl) May 21st Westwood Arts Broxton, between Kinross& Weyburn Demo/performance evening, time & location TBA May 24nd Travel to San Francisco Info on Bay Area workshops & performances to follow. Important Dates in the Bay Area June 12th Performance at La Peña 510-849-2572 June 18 & 19th Performance at ODC Theater 415-626-6745 Mondays beginning May 17th Workshops at Rhythm & Motion 415-621-0643 Everyone,
We are still looking for housing for about 6-8 people. In LA we were very lucky to house
them all in 3 homes within 5 minutes of each other. We need to keep them close together
for logistical purposes. |
Check their MP3.com page out! Ban
Rarra on MP3.com
Note from Mike Cherashore:
Watch for the release of Ban Rarra's CD. You can preview the CD at http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/148/ban_rarra.html
Help to keep Ban Rarra in the top ten on the latin list, listen every day.
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