Experience the vibrant rhythms of Cuba as Malpaso Dance Company takes center stage at The Joyce Theater with a mixed-bill program featuring three U.S. premieres and an audience favorite.
Cuban Contemporary Dance Comes to The Joyce
The Malpaso Dance Company, one of the most sought-after Cuban dance troupes, has returned to The Joyce Theater with a mixed-bill program featuring three U.S. premieres and an audience favorite.
A Showcase of Collaboration and Innovation
Malpaso was founded in 2012 by associate artistic director Daile Carrazana, resident choreographer and artistic director Osnel Delgado, and executive director Fernando Sáez. The company is dedicated to collaboration rather than honing a particular aesthetic, and their newest season at The Joyce is a testament to this approach.
The program opens with “Ara” (2024), the latest work from resident choreographer Delgado. This duet, performed by Delgado and Ballet Nacional de Cuba’s principal dancer Grettel Morejón, explores the complexities of romantic relationships. The piece begins with a couple standing in a warm, hazy light, and features moments of tenderness and intimacy. However, some of the movement feels out of place, and the live music, while beautiful, sometimes takes center stage over the dance.
Retrato de Familia (Family Portrait)
Next on the program is “Retrato de Familia” (2024), a piece by Company member Esteban Aguilar. This work features live music from the Havana-based Alma String Quartet and pianist Aldo López-Gavilán, and explores themes of family and identity. The dancers move through a series of vignettes, each one evoking a different aspect of family life. The piece is fresh and unexpected, and showcases Aguilar’s unique voice as a choreographer.
The final U.S. premiere on the program is “Vertigo” (2023), by Havana-based Spanish choreographer Susana Pous. This piece features six dancers who move through a series of group lifts and interactions, creating a sense of unsteadiness and uncertainty. The live music, performed by the Alma String Quartet, adds to the sense of tension and energy.
Indomitable Waltz
The program concludes with “Indomitable Waltz” (2016), a piece by Canadian choreographer Aszure Barton. This work is a standout highlight of the evening, featuring dancers who transform into animals through movement and music. The piece is visually stunning, with dancers flapping, perching, and pruning like birds in flight.
A Company on the Rise
Malpaso Dance Company has been an associate company of Joyce Theater Productions for 10 seasons, and their longevity is a testament to their commitment to innovation and collaboration. While this program may not take risks or push boundaries as much as some might hope, it showcases the company’s technical acuity and boundless energy. With “Indomitable Waltz” standing out as a highlight, Malpaso continues to solidify its place in the contemporary dance world.
Malpaso Dance Company is at The Joyce Theater in New York City through January 26.
- observer.com | Cuban Contemporary Dance Comes to The Joyce
- nytimes.com | Malpaso Dance Company From Havana Brings Energy but Little ...
