2023-11-02 13:20:00
As soon as I found out that they were performing in the Raúl Díaz Argüelles community, almost on the outskirts of Caimito, I went to enjoy again the performance of the Danza Libre company, based in Guantánamo and arriving at Artemiseño properties in order to participate in the Day for Cuban Culture Day.
In a head-to-head with the NC Dance company and other valuable Artemiseño artists, the guys from Danza Libre, under the direction of Elio Orestes Reina Figueredo, had taken the stage of the Cine-Teatro Juárez on the night of October 20, to be part of the show that director Jonnie Martínez Nieves gave to the Artemisa audience.
Elio Orestes is from Bayamo and has a degree in Dance Art, specializing in Folklore, but when he went to Guantánamo to take Free Dance experiences, he was captivated by its work and decided not to return to Granma soil. He did not imagine then that starting in 2013 he would become the CEO of the company.
About his time in our province, he assures that he has no complaints because the people of Artemis have made him feel at home, with a wonderful welcome from the public, although in this territory there was not a single reference about this dance company. Guantanamo
Elfriede Malher, a very creative North American dancer, choreographer, pedagogue and director, founded Danza Libre in 1990, intended to be a proposal where elements of folkloric and contemporary dance would be mixed.
Elfriede arrived in Cuba in the 60s of the last century and could have remained in the Cuban capital, teaching his proposals in recognized institutions such as the National School of Art and in highly prestigious educational centers; But she preferred to take a risk, explore new possibilities in other areas of the country and found what she was looking for so much in the province of Guantánamo.
There he worked hard, not only with professionals, but also with the amateur movement and in intricate communities and places. He was never interested in popularity. Unfortunately, her death in 1998 left a deep void in the field of dance.
Alfredo Velázquez Carcassés, Elfreide’s disciple and her right arm, fell the responsibility of taking the position left by his teacher and he assumed it brilliantly, to the point of giving greater national and international visibility to Danza Libre. His tragic death, at only 44 years old, was devastating for everyone and was another brutal blow against culture.
Regisseur Janeysis Chivás filled Alfredo’s position for three years and, in 2016, Elio Orestes took the reins of the project. At that time he had few dancers left and he had to, step by step, train new talents and recover the active repertoire. By then only the company’s orchestra was complete.
But since artistic talent does not grow only in Havana, from the distant Guantánamo the company climbed steps of quality and took by storm various national stages and also those of the United States, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Croatia and Great Britain.
At the Danzan 2 event, in Matanzas, where Danza Libre swept the prizes in dispute, twinning was established with the NC Dance company and its director.
Today, Elio Orestes regrets not being able to attend more events, including international ones, due to real resource limitations, which discourages the dancers’ interest and leads them to seek more prosperous horizons.
However, he is grateful for the joy they have given him during his performances in Artemisa, he is grateful for this cultural day, for his company’s performance in brand new and humble spaces.
And, as expected, if they are ever invited to appear in Artemisa again, they will move heaven and earth to be present in these premises where they were welcomed with such hospitality.
#Happy #home