The Cuban dance show, ‘Vamos Cuba!’ has returned to Sadlers Well’s Peacock Theatre for the second time. It gained critical acclaim in 2016, and this time around brings all that sexiness and excitement as last time around.
The story is set in Havana airport overnight, where a flight to Miami is inexplicably delayed. Waiting in an airport for a delayed flight certainly isn’t my idea of fun and excitement, so I was curious to see how a storyline could blossom from such a situation – but blossom it did. Riotous interactions between travellers, airport staff and cabin crew ensue, as they all get to know each other, building relationships through traditional and modern Latin rhythms, dance, song and a little love. The show is structured around 12 different dance pieces, each with its own plotline showing the various interactions between the characters we meet. Fourteen dancers in all are accompanied by a band and two singers. The music is wonderful, and the dancers, choreography by Nilda Guerra, dazzle with sexy moves throughout.
Whilst most of the storyline takes place in the airport, in the second half, we join one of the characters in a dream sequence in which she experiences flashes of Cuban culture – carnival, songs and dance from Cuba’s Afro-Caribbean religion, and Cuba’s showgirls. During this period of the show, we see various images of Cuba’s past displayed on the large screen, including images of Castro, revolutionaries and depictions of Cuba’s streets. A little on the political side for a London audience maybe, but was intended to showcase Cuba’s history at least.
All-in-all, it was a wonderful show, with fantastic music from a live band led by Julito Padron, a DJ, and vibrant dance from a cast of the sexiest dancers Cuba has to offer performing steps from rumba, samba, mambo, reggaeton and cha-cha-cha, combined with modern styles including break-dance and hip-hop. This amazing experience resulted in a standing ovation from the audience. For the last two songs, the audience was encouraged to get up and dance – and about 98% were up and dancing and the rest clapping along at the very least; this was a sight to see in itself.
- Peacock Theatre, 24 Oct – 11 Nov 2017
- Company: Rakatan
- Artistic Director: Nilda Guerra
- Choreographer: Nilda Guerra
- Running time: 2 hrs 5 mins (including one 20 min interval)
Scintillating!
Summary
Glamorous show. A Must see!
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