Long Island City
,
NY-
February 16, 2007
- For Immediate Release
Oriki Omi Oddara will début their first full-length performance of traditional and original dance, music, and song, on Saturday March 3rd at
8:00pm
, at the JKO Theater,
120 West 46th Street
,
New York City
,
NY
(Between Broadway and
6th Avenue
).
Rooted in the Afro-Cuban Culture entitled ORIKI A CUBA: REZO POR TI! Oriki Omi Oddara was founded by and is under the Artistic Direction of the legendary Felix “Pupy” Insua. Leaving his beloved
Cuba
, Insua came to
New York
to share his culture and extensive knowledge of ancient traditions and bridge their relevance across cultures and generations through his innovative choreography and musical vision.
Sensual and aggressive, invigorating and chilling, Insua’s choreography draws inspiration from natural forces such as the ever-changing tides of the sea and the seduction of gentle winds. These movements are personified in the dance of the “Orishas” (Afro-Cuban deities), and also communicate a commonality between earth, the human experience, and the spiritual realm of possession and release. The repertoire conjures images of ancestral spirits and rituals, and illuminates hidden passages into mystical universes both in days past and modern times. Insua’s choreographic vocabulary is based in the traditions of the Yoruba,
Congo
, Carabali, and
Dahomey
cultures, complimented through the use of ballet and modern techniques.
In keeping with Insua’s mission and his belief that dance and its expression is not limited to a select few, this production incorporates professional musicians and dancers from Cuba as well as professional and student dancers from New York City who have been trained under Insua.
In conjunction with the performance, and supported in part, by InCollaboration, Incorporated, a New York Non-profit Arts in Education Company, dance students from JKO High School (“Fame”) will study with a principal company dancer and later share the stage with Oriki for both evening performances.
Oriki Omi Oddara’s Music Director Roman Diaz, one of
Cuba
’s finest percussionists, reinvents traditional rhythms into explosive arrangements. Oriki’s company dancers are Rosalia Gamboa, Jennifer Donello, Ann Mazzocca, and Zoe Klein, Additional dancers and special musical guests to be announced.
Performances on Saturday March 3rd at
8:00pm
and Sunday, March 4th at
7:00pm
.
Student Matinee on Friday, March 2nd at
10:00am
.
Location: JKO Theater.
120 West 46th Street
, NYC (Between Broadway and
6th Avenue
).
For Box Office Information: Shambhala Yoga and Dance: 718-662-9956.
For more information about Oriki, contact Jennifer Donello at 718-824-0316 or email to: obba_lubbe@peoplepc.com. Visit Oriki on the web at www.orikiomioddara.com
Students at PS752Q
