Cuban modern dance technique, also known as la técnica cubana (técnica), is a codified contemporary dance language that was pioneered by Ramiro Guerra and further developed by Arnaldo Patterson in Havana, Cuba in the 1960s. Técnica is a highly expressive dance language that fuses Afro Cuban dance traditions and Cuban social dances with European ballet and modern dance techniques. While drawing from the Graham-based principles of contraction and release, técnica utilizes deep, sensual, and oceanic undulations of the spine and arms, a broad circular use of the pelvis, torso and head, and spiraling movement guided fully by the breath. This class will incorporate a strong full-body warm-up, phrases in the center, floorwork, combinations across the floor, and stretches.
Why do you dance? Because you live it? To compete, to perform, to express yourself? In the Afro-Cuban folkloric tradition, dance is so deeply entwined with music, storytelling, and religion that almost everyone dances, and there's almost always a reason to be dancing. "In life, there are so many celebrations to dance about," says Noibis Licea, an NYC-based dancer and choreographer from Bayamo, Cuba, who graduated from the National School of Arts in Havana.
