Sunday, October 31, 2010

Cuban Revue in New Bedford

The performance we saw last night has the featured picture on the Zeiterion's playbill, a dancer with a gorgeous red skirt flaring out and up. It was the first Block Party of the season, a special event which includes a tent on the street with a themed meal before the show, in this case, Arroz con Pollo, plantains and flan. A small tent without enough tables and food served in those trough-like paper bowls. Oh well.
Beautiful theater, great seats and seven live musicians on stage. Great show with fifteen beautifully trained young women versed mostly in the Ballet Hispanico, in heeled shoes instead of the French Ballet that everyone knows with those torturous toe shoes. They came out very impressively with their castanets. The Flamenco number included the long trains on the gowns making them look like peacocks or caterpillars. I missed the men who bring such fire to Flamenco.
Afro-Cuban dance was given a brief showing in long white gowns.
The reason I sprung for the tent tickets was for dancing after the show. Surprisingly, it was a Brazilian drum corps for music. The leader did a creditable job bringing the assembled older mostly non-dancers up to enjoy themselves on the tiny floor. "Hola, Hola, Hola!" "Put your hands in the air!"
Then a tiny, dark-skinned carnival dancer in a skimpy outfit with lots of fringe and a headdress appeared to lead us in some line dancing. The step she called Samba is very fast triple steps.
My daughter-in-law and I learned the steps and then I took notes.
Joe sat in the back wishing it were a Salsa band with partnered dancing.
Then the director invited the young performers to come enjoy the entertainment in their matching Listz Alfonso Troupe warm ups. They enjoyed the carnival style for about a half hour and when they left so did we.
40 minutes home, just like Betsy's Ballroom.

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