Cast of VAMOS CUBA! Turn Up The Heat at Birmingham New Street

By: Oct. 31, 2016
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Commuters at Birmingham New Street station were brought to a temporary standstill on Saturday with a sizzling performance from the cast of Latin dance spectacular, Vamos Cuba!

To celebrate the opening of Vamos Cuba! at Birmingham Hippodrome from Tues 1 Nov and in countdown to another Saturday night of Strictly Come Dancing, the surprise performance saw the 15-strong cast of professional dancers descend on Birmingham New Street station concourse to perform two, unexpected numbers from the show; a raunchy rumba and high-energy mambo.

Adding a touch of Cuban-spice to a Saturday commute, the surprise flash mob performances took place at 4.00pm and 4.20pmwith both Birmingham Hippodrome (@BrumHippodrome) and Birmingham Network Rail (@NetworkRailBHM) tweeting live coverage from the scene.

Laura Smith, Head of Communications at Birmingham Hippodrome said: 'As winter approaches, we wanted to do something that would really capture the spirit of summer - and what better way to achieve that than with some authentic Cuban street dance! Watching the cast in action, you can't help but get carried away by the infectious energy and warmth of these amazing dancers. I think it's fair to say that the cast of Vamos Cuba! brought the party to Birmingham New Street on Saturday'.

Choreographed by Nilda Guerra, Vamos Cuba! (Let's Go Cuba!) is a spectacular new co-production between Sadler's Wells, Blancon Productions, Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg and Birmingham Hippodrome from the team behind the smash-hitHavana Rakatan.

Set in the crazy chaos of Havana airport, where families are parted, lovers reunited and time flies when you're having fun, the show evokes the joys and vibrancy of Cuban life with all the passion and humour that embodies the Cuban spirit.

The high-energy production includes salsa, mambo, rumba, cha-cha-cha and reggaeton, performed by a band led by Julito Padron, a DJ and a cast of the most sizzling dancers Cuba has to offer. Experience the joyous spirit of Havana as Vamos Cuba!reveals contemporary Cuban culture through a mix of music and dance.

Internationally established choreographer and director Nilda Guerra began her professional career in 1993 as a dancer at Havana's Teatro Lírico. In 2001 she founded Ballet Rakatan, one of Cuba's most prestigious dance companies, performing on world renowned stages including Sydney Opera House, New York City Center, Le Carre Theatre, Tokyo City Hall and Oslo Opera House among others. Havan Rakatan has been seen by more than 200,000 people worldwide and has enjoyed six West End seasons at the Peacock.

Julito Padron, widely recognized in Havana as one of the most promising jazz musicians coming out of Cuba, is a member of Irakere the Cuban jazz band led by Chucho Valdés. While continuing his association with the famous band, he is developing his own repertoire and assembling his own group. An alumni of the Escuela Nacional de Arte in Havana, Padrón anchors his art in the Cuban musical tradition. His professional career includes working with masters Ignacio Piñeiro and Adalberto Alvarez. As outside influences, Julio Padrón acknowledges American jazz and Brazilian music.



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