René de Cárdenas
Encyclopedia
René de Cárdenas is a Cuba
n dancer and choreographer born in Havana
. He is the creator of Sonlar, a musical performed worldwide, describing a day in the life of a Havana
barrio
, a kind of communal house where several families live together.
, the island was facing dancers shortage. And what he thought as “not something a man should do”, became his passion.
He started dancing with the Ballet Nacional de Cuba
for 30 years, under the direction of renowned Cuban names like Alicia Alonso
, Jorge Esquivel, Andrés Williams, José Zamorano…
Besides, during these years, he was invited as a dancer, Maître, Ballet Master or choreographer in dance companies performing in countries like Bulgaria
, Canada
, Chile
, Poland
, Colombia
, Spain
and many others.
But after 30 years of dancing and touring, his career was stopped by a foot injury. Unable to perform, he mobilized his talent and experience in order to create. As a choreographer, he has created around a dozen short pieces that entered the repertories of various Cuban dance companies. He also worked as a consultant in several Latin American and European Academies, giving lectures and courses, participating in workshops and stages.
But his greatest achievement is Sonlar, a dance and percussion show, telling the story of the life in a Havana’s solar. This musical is performed by his own dance company: la Compania René de Cárdenas. The premiere took place in the National Theater of La Havana in December 2004. Then the show notoriety kept on growing, so that an international tour was set. Foreign critics have compared it with big Broadway productions such as Stomp
or A Chorus Line
.
René de Cárdenas has also started a career of writer by publishing in 2005 Hatana de Los Remedios, a story compilation.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n dancer and choreographer born in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
. He is the creator of Sonlar, a musical performed worldwide, describing a day in the life of a Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
barrio
Barrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
, a kind of communal house where several families live together.
History
Since his earlier age, René de Cárdenas has been cradled by music and art : his mother was a professor at Cuba’s National Art Academy. But dance wasn’t really a calling and his career started for a much more practical reason : he was not good at the violin so his mother advised him to audition as a dancer because after the Cuban revolutionCuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
, the island was facing dancers shortage. And what he thought as “not something a man should do”, became his passion.
He started dancing with the Ballet Nacional de Cuba
Ballet Nacional de Cuba
The Cuban National Ballet is a classical ballet company based at the Great Theatre of Havana in Havana, Cuba. Founded by the Cuban prima ballerina assoluta, Alicia Alonso in 1948, it has become recognised as one of the world's leading ballet companies...
for 30 years, under the direction of renowned Cuban names like Alicia Alonso
Alicia Alonso
Alicia Alonso Martínez is the Cuban prima ballerina assoluta and choreographer. Her company became the Ballet de Cuba in 1955....
, Jorge Esquivel, Andrés Williams, José Zamorano…
Besides, during these years, he was invited as a dancer, Maître, Ballet Master or choreographer in dance companies performing in countries like Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and many others.
But after 30 years of dancing and touring, his career was stopped by a foot injury. Unable to perform, he mobilized his talent and experience in order to create. As a choreographer, he has created around a dozen short pieces that entered the repertories of various Cuban dance companies. He also worked as a consultant in several Latin American and European Academies, giving lectures and courses, participating in workshops and stages.
But his greatest achievement is Sonlar, a dance and percussion show, telling the story of the life in a Havana’s solar. This musical is performed by his own dance company: la Compania René de Cárdenas. The premiere took place in the National Theater of La Havana in December 2004. Then the show notoriety kept on growing, so that an international tour was set. Foreign critics have compared it with big Broadway productions such as Stomp
Stomp
Stomp may refer to:*Stomp , a downwards kick using the heel*Stomp , a percussive physical theatre troupe*Stomp Records, a record label now part of Union Label Group*Stomp Entertainment, an Australian entertainment group...
or A Chorus Line
Chorus line
A chorus line is a substantial group of dancers who together perform synchronized routines, usually in musical theatre. Sometimes, singing is also performed. Chorus line dancers in Broadway musicals and revues have been referred to by slang terms such as ponies, gypsies and twirlies...
.
René de Cárdenas has also started a career of writer by publishing in 2005 Hatana de Los Remedios, a story compilation.
Dance shows
- Havana, you are my love (2007)
- Desencuentro (2007)
- Sonlar (2004)
- My Soul… Alone (2004)
- Beats of the city (2003)
- Remembranzas (2003)
- Instinct (2003)
- E pur si muore (2001)
- Labil (2000)
Books
- Technical book of duo (soon published)
- From the coldness of the shadow (soon published)
- Hatana’s stories (soon published)
- Hatana de los Remedios (2005)