New York City Center will present “A Bailar: Dance at the Center,” a three-week Latin dance festival featuring three acclaimed dance companies from Cuba, Argentina and Spain, running Feb. 18 – March 7, 2015. The festival kicks off with the U.S. debut of Havana Rakatan, a celebration of Cuban dance and music, and continues with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s milonga, which captures the sultry world of Buenos Aires tango. Voces, Suite Flamenca, a new work from flamenco superstar Sara Baras, closes A Bailar. The festival’s many free pre-show events include dance lessons and discussion panels that will explore Latin culture through a variety of lenses.
Havana Rakatan
Feb. 18 – 22, 2015
Performing for the first time in the United States, Havana Rakatan explores the roots of Cuban music and dance, a unique fusion of Spanish culture and African spiritual beliefs, accompanied by the son band Turquino. Flamenco, Yoruba and Afro-Haitian rhythms, as well as jazz, mambo, and son, give way to the modern forms of salsa that originated in the early twentieth-century salon dances. Havana Rakatan made its hugely successful debut in 2007 at the Peacock Theatre in London and has since toured all over the world.
Cuban choreographer Nilda Guerra directs a talented and versatile company of dancers, most of whom are graduates of the renowned Escuela Nacional de Arte de la Habana, which combines contemporary dance training with Cuban dance and Latin styles. Havana Rakatan also features the eight-piece Cuban band Turquino, which performs live onstage.
Havana Rakatan is presented by New York City Center in association with Sadler’s Wells and Congas Productions.
m¡longa
Feb. 26 – March 1, 2015
Deeply rooted in Argentinean culture, tango has fascinated and captivated the world with its sensuality, power and beauty. In m¡longa, celebrated contemporary choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui takes the m¡longa—a social dance evening held in Buenos Aires’ intimate late-night bars—as a starting point and adds a contemporary twist. The production features ten tango dancers, two contemporary dancers, and an Argentinean tango band of five musicians.
New York City Center presents Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s m¡longa, a Sadler’s Wells production.
Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras: Voces, Suite Flamenca
March 4 – 7, 2015
Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras’ Voces, Suite Flamenca captures the emotion, drama and passion of traditional flamenco with a vibrant contemporary edge. Celebrated for her brilliant footwork and captivating stage presence, Baras has become internationally famous in a career that has spanned more than 20 years and earned her dozens of prestigious dance awards. Baras is joined onstage by her company of 15 dancers, including guest artist José Serrano, and eight flamenco musicians.
Voces, Suite Flamenca is presented by New York City Center and Flamenco Festival.
Havana Rakatan will play seven performances, Feb. 18-22, as follows: Wednesday, Feb. 18 and Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 20 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21 at 2 and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 22 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.
m¡longa will play four performances, Feb. 26 – March 22, as follows: Thursday, Feb. 26, Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28, at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, March 1, at 2:00 p.m. Feb. 26 – 28 at Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Sunday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m.
Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras will play four performances, March 4-7, as follows: Wednesday, March 4 and Thursday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m., and Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7 at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased online at www.NYCityCenter.org, by calling CityTix® at (212) 581-1212, or at the City Center Box Office at 131 W. 55th St. (between 6th & 7th aves). For more information, please visit www.NYCityCenter.org.
