Compañía Flamenca Ecos
Founded in 1999 to disseminate and teach flamenco music-which arguably matches like no other the temperament and tradition of the Cuban people-this company combines traditional and contemporary flamenco, drawing on current international dance trends and Cuba's music and dance. The direction has been assumed by dancer and choreographer Danny Villalonga, while its experienced dancers have been trained by famous maestros of this Spanish dance, including Cristina Hoyos and Manolo Marín.
INTRODUCTION
The first known manifestation of dance and music in Cuba was a ceremony called areito performed by the island's indigenous population, but due to their rapid extinction, they left no substantial cultural traces; it would be Spaniards and Africans who would shape the individualities of a people who, since colonial times, from slaves' quarters to aristocratic halls, would exhibit a true passion for dance. During the 19th century, performances by professional dancers-both Spanish folk dances and ballet-in Havana's theatres would reinforce this gusto for
dance, which remains to this day. However, Cuba's first ballet company was created during the 1940s by Alicia Alonso, and only after 1959 would modern dance groups and other ensembles which dramatized folk dances appear. For the first time, these disciplines were taught in a systemic manner; thus, theatricalized dance is a relatively recent phenomenon. At present, there are around 50 dance companies, and new companies continue proliferating in keeping with the love for dance of the Cuban people.
Cuban Music
Cuban Music
