Rumba Musical Spices Little Havana
By: Beau Higgins Jul. 14, 2005
ENCORE PERFORMANCE OF AFRO-CUBAN RUMBA MUSICAL
IFE-ILE Dance Ensemble to Perform on July 23Audiences who braved stormy weather conditions to see Guaguanco: The
Rumba Musical at the Coconut Grove Playhouse on June 18 urged
artistic director Neri Torres to schedule an encore performance so
they could bring friends and family to see a second show. Neri
Torres obliged, and the musical will be presented again on July 23
at the Manuel Artime Theatre, 900 SW 1 St., Little Havana (Miami),
at 8 pm.Torres is Artistic Director of the Miami-based IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban
Dance & Music Ensemble and choreographer of Guaguanco, a colorful
spectacle of dance, drumming and song that traces the Afro-Cuban
rhythms that gave birth to rumba. Guaguanco takes audiences on a
whirlwind, time-traveling journey from a modern Miami Beach party
jam to Havana's solares (urban ghettos) during colonial times.
Audiences will see dance styles including folkloric Rumba, Cuban
Son, Salsa and Afro-Modern. The journey is punctuated by both
poignant and comedic moments, and audience members are sure to keep
their toes tapping the whole time.
approached me and asked if we would be performing again," said
Torres. "One person was so impressed by the June 18 performance that
he donated the funds so we could bring the show back for an encore
show."Originally from Havana, Cuba, Torres founded the IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban
Dance & Music Ensemble in 1998. From 1996 through 2003, Torres was
principal dancer and choreographer for Gloria Estefan, whose
video "No Me Dejes De Querer," choreographed by Torres, won a Grammy
Award in 2000. Torres has continued to work with world renowned pop
and Latin stars such as Roselyn Sanchez, Carlos Ponce, Albita
Rodriguez and Willy Chirino Torres was also the dance choreographer
for actor Andy Garcia's latest film, "The Lost City."Guaguanco: The Rumba Musical (Cocktail party after the show)Manuel Artime Theatre
900 SW 1 St, Little Havana
Neri Torres. Guaguanco, The Rumba Musical is directed and
choreographed by IFE-ILE's Artistic Director Neri Torres, and
features dancers Lucky Bruno, Angélica Díaz, Eduardo Oliva, Eruadye
Muñiz, Monica Isla, Jennifer Clark and guest dancer (from San
Francisco, CA) Aramis Pazos. Musicians include Aruan Torres, Jose
Rodriguez, Arelan Torres, Armando Gonzalez, Eduardo Napoles and
Eusebio Huisi.Tickets: Order online at http://www.ticketweb.com or call 1-866-468-
7630. Single tickets prices are $35. Student and Senior Citizen tickets
are $17. General Information: (305) 476-0388 or http://www.bailausa.comAbout IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance EnsembleIFE-ILE is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization supported in part by
the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs and the county
Commissioner, the State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, and
the Florida humanities Council. IFE-ILE is dedicated to the
preservation of the Afro-Cuban culture and traditions through the
arts. The IFE-ILE Music and Dance ensemble offers a variety of
classes for children and adults in drumming, Latin dance, ballet and
modern.
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