SYNOPSIS
Havana Rakatan
Havana Rakatan once again returns to the Peacock Theatre after great success in 2009. This brilliant show, direct from Cuba, which blends live Cuban music with high-energy dance, which is guaranteed to get you moving to the beat!
Rakatan present a sexy, passionate and celebratory spectacle, all served up in London as a hefty slice of Cuban culture.
Ballet Rakatan features mambo, cha-cha-cha, rumba, bolero and salsa in an entrancing journey, exploring the musical legacy of a most distinctive country.
Live music is provided by well-known Cuban band Turquino: The show is divided into two acts in which the sexy, street-smart dancers of the company are presented to the audience. They perform a variety of dances, mixing fancy footwork with humour and dynamism.
The first part of the show explores the roots of Cuban culture, looking at the fusion of Spanish culture with African spiritual beliefs. This then moves into a celebration of flamenco, Yoruba and Afro-Haitian rhythms, which takes the form of a tribal ceremony.
The second part of the show moves into a contemporary setting with an exploration of such dance styles as the mambo, salsa and cha-cha-cha before moving onto the salsa and the rumba.
The salsa has also become a very popular form of dance in the UK, which appeals to both young and old.
Havana Rakatan uses simple sets and lighting, fast costume changes, and live music in order to represent the crowded streets and intoxicating nightlife of the Cuban capital.
Havana Rakatan opens at the Peacock Theatre on the 4th Feb 2010 and runs until the 6th March.
