DANZ QUARTERLY - Issue No 9: October, November, December 2007

Fuerza y Compás by Danza Cuba

Christchurch Arts Festival
The Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
 26 July 2007

Reviewed by Anna Chapman

Danza Cuba is the all woman company of Lizt Alfonso, a Cuban choreographer and composer.  Alfonso’s choreography is described as a fusion of Spanish and Afro-Cuban dance, within a framework of strong technique and close unison work.

Fuerza, y Compás, translated as ‘Strength and Beat”, is a well named piece, with the placement of a foot on stage producing everything from soundless step, to a tap and a defining stamp. Similarly a hand can indicate rhythm with flick of the wrist to the snap of fingers, a clap, a slap or manipulating a castanet.  The rhythms of Spain and Cuba were showcased throughout the evening. 

The stage was unadorned, with the psych providing colour and definition to the stage.  Six musicians were grouped on the stage.  The vocalist began to sing to an acoustic guitar and dancers took the stage.

The opening dances derived strictly from Spain and had the detailed concentrated energy, restrained passion and hauteur required of dance in a flamenco style. These introduced many of the dance steps used in the evening.  The full-skirted costumes were used to full effect to accentuate the fluid motion and subtle sway of the dance. 

Afro-Cuban dance moves were less sensual and more sexy and the dance in which two sets of dancers performed side by side showed the differences most starkly – the restrained passion of the Spanish contrasting with the more loose fluidity of the Afro-Cuban style.  In this style the dancers began to ‘call’ to or encourage one another, which gave the audience a sense of connection to them.

Lizt Alfonso uses her dancers effectively, and her knowledge and passion for dance is evident in the expectations she has of her dancers. The choreography was not static, using levels and silhouette to emphasise the beauty of the work, and the forms within the dance.  However the range of steps used was limited and their repetition was noticeable.

The quality of the dancers and their performance cannot be questioned.  The performance was highly competent and technically intense.  A sense of connection with the dancers, of being caught up in the passion or enthusiasm of the dance was missing, and was a significant omission from what could have been a highly engaging performance.

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