PASOS PROVOCATIVOS
(PROVOCATIVE STEPS)
A REPERTORY OF CUBAN DANCE MOVEMENT
WITH YUDELSIS FRÓMETA SANCHEZ


dvd description
video type: dance demonstration
dance level: intermediate - advanced
time: 60 minutes
genres: Cuban popular & folkloric dance
film location: Havana, Cuba

Over the past half century, Cuba has been unique in generating a profusion of dynamic music and dance genres that have been adopted worldwide - the conga, mambo, cha cha chá, rumba, and salsa-casino. Over time, the dances often evolve into something else, often unrecoginizable from the original form. This video provides a fresh opportunity for dancers around the globe to view authentic source material of Cuban dance movement and steps that they can incorporate into whatever Latin or salsa style they dance. This is how the Cuban's themselves develop their own individual dance styles; by integrating traditional and modern dance movement into their own dance expression.

Yudelsis Frómeta Sanchez, originally from Santiago de Cuba, is a gifted artist who embodies Cuban dance. Her fluid energy, grace, and passion is remarkable and beautiful to behold. Yudelsis was trained in Santiago's National School of the Arts and has studied with some of the best master teachers in Cuba.

PART I - Introduction

PART II - Dance Demonstration with Yudelsis
Each dance genre has a three sections.
1 - a short video of the dance performed in a live setting
2 - a demonstration of the dance
3 - steps & movement variations
MOZAMBIQUE - carnaval rhythm created by Pello El Afrokán in the early 1960's
CONGA - carnaval rhythm originating from Afro-Cuban slave celebrations
PILÓN - carnaval rhythm popularized by Enrique Bonne and Pancho Alonso in the early 1960's. Pilón means "pestle". The movements are associated with coffee grinding.
ORISHA - music and dance of the Santería (Afro-Yoruba) religious tradition
PALO - music and dance of the Palo Monte (Afro-Bantu) religious tradition
SON - popular rhythm genre originating in eastern Cuba. The basis of salsa-casino.
CHA CHA CHÁ - popular rhythm genre created by Enrique Jorrín in the 1950's
MAMBO - popular rhythm genre and performance dance style popularized by Israel "Cachao" López and Perez Prado in the 1950's
DESPELOTE - modern solo dance style used in conjunction with salsa-casino

PART III - Interview with Yudelsis
Yudelsis talks about her dance background and the life of a professional dancer in Cuba.

view movie clip

view larger movie on the video channel