Contemporary Dance in Cuba

<p> The lens of dance can provide a multifaceted view of the present-day Cuban experience. Cuban contemporary dance or <I>tecnica cubana</I> as it is known throughout Latin America is a highly evolved hybrid of ballet North American modern dance Afro-Cuban tradition flamenco and Cuban nightclub cabaret. Unlike most dance forms <I>tecnica</I> was created intentionally with government backing. For Cuba a dancing country it was natural--and highly effective--for the Revolutionary regime to link national image with the visceral power of dance. Written by a dancer who traveled and worked in Cuba from the 1970s to the present this book provides an inside look at daily life in Cuba. From watching the great Alicia Alonso to describing the economic trials of the 1990s Special Period the author uses history humor personal experience rich description and extensive interviews to reveal contemporary life and dance in Cuba.</p>