DANZA CONTEMPORÁNEA DE CUBA (DCC) has been in existence for more than 50 years having been founded in September 1959.
The dancers are trained at the National School of Dance. Dance is very important to the people of Cuba and it has drawn upon artistic influences of the many different nationalities that have been attracted to the island. Training is based on the technique of Cuban modern dance which has developed from the rhythms of Afro-Cubanism alongside the influence of Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham and Pina Bausch. The School teaches the dancers how to face the challenge of working with many different choreographers’ styles and how to express their emotions through dance.
The Company’s studio is in Plaza de la Revoluçion in Havana, a key location in Cuban history. World renowned choreographers have enjoyed working there with the talented dancers including amongst others Maurice Béjart, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Mats Ek, Sasha Waltz, Rafael Bonachela, Juan Kruz, Jan Linkens and, just recently, Itzik Galili.
Under the Artistic Directorship of Miguel Iglesias, Danza Contemporanea has performed on some of the most prestigious stages of the world including the Gran Teatro in Havana. Outside of Cuba the DCC has performed at the Festival of Nations in Paris, the Canadian Arts Center in Ottawa, in Mexico at the Bellas Artes and National Auditorium, in Italy at the Arena in Verona, and at the Fenice and Malibrán Theatres in Venice, in Brazil at the Teatro Municipal in Sao Paulo and in Argentina at the San Martin in Buenos Aires, in Belgium at the Theatre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, in London at Sadler’s Wells Theatre and the Coliseum, and in Australia at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre as part of the 2011 Brisbane Festival. In 2011 they gave their first performances in the United States with a two week Season at the Joyce Theater in New York and this year they have already been to the Teatro Real in Madrid, Mercat de Flors in Barcelona, Maison de la Dance in Lyon as well as Bilbao and Wolfsburg in Germany prior to their second UK Tour.
Artistic Director
Miguel A. Iglesias Ferrer
Miguel A. Iglesias Ferrer’s life has been devoted to dance in Cuba and he been Artistic Director of Danza Contemporanea de Cuba for 27 years. He has developed the company into the major contemporary dance company within Cuba and in recent years it has gained increasing recognition from around the world.
In 2008 and again in 2009 his large scale production of Carmina Burana won the Luna Award. In addition he has produced many works for television in Cuba and other countries.
Miguel is a Professor at the Superior Art Institute and Vice President of the Scenic Arts Section of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba. The Cuban State has honoured him with many Awards for his work.
Manager
Jorge Brooks Gremps
Jorge Brooks Gremps was born in 1957 in Guantanamo, Cuba. He studied naval and mechanical engineering and has a degree in Economics from Havana University.
From 1998 he was a Director of the Artist Agency at Arts Escenica leaving in 2003 to become the Manager of Danza Contemporanea de Cuba.
Jorge is a Member of the Artist and Writers Union of Cuba. He has published a number of poetry and literature research works in Cuban and Spanish magazines, has written around 25 essays and critiques about dance within Cuba and around the world and writes book reviews. Various works have attracted Awards.
Over the years Jorge has produced shows in the UK, Europe, Australia, China and Mexico.
Dancers
Abel Rojo, Alberto Gonzales, Lisvet Barcia, Aymara Vila, Carlos Blanco, Claudia Iglesias, Gabriela Burdsall, George Cespedes, Heidy Batista, Denis Martinez, Jenny Nocedo, Lisbeth Saad, Jennifer Tejada, Mario S Elias, Marta Ortega, Norge Cedeno, Thai Suarez, Yaday Ponce, Yelda Leyva, Yosmell Calderon, Yoerlis Brunet, Alejandro J Ransoli, Raul Reinoso
