For over
thirty years, the internationally renown folkloric group CUTUMBA
has been researching, collecting, conserving, revitalizing,
and presenting the folkloric manifestations of Afro-Franco-Haitian-Cuban
origin found primarily in Cuba's eastern (Oriente) provinces.
The ensemble includes 48 musicians and dancers. Their vast repertoire
includes the Afro-Cuban dances brought to the island by Africans
of Congo/Bantu and Yoruba traditions, as well as the strong
influences of the Afro-Haitian migration to this part of Cuba.
The ensemble's choreographies include gagá, vodún,
santería, merengue-haitiano, tumba francesa, rumba, and
son.
As stellar exponents of these traditions, CUTUMBA has been invited
on several international tours throughout Europe, the Caribbean,South
America and the U.S. Their rigorous artistic quality, authentic
representation and dynamic expression have been honored on numerous
occasions, including a medal at the Festival Internacional FITEL
of Portugal in 1992, El Premio Nacional de la Mariposa, 1994;
and the Medalla de la Popularidad in the Festival Internacional
de Teatro (FIT) in Cádiz, Spain in 1995. In 2000 they
were feted at the INTERNATIONAL WORLD FESTIVAL OF FOLKLORIC
DANCE in Cugans and Confolens, France, and were the featured
dance company at Paris' Disneyland Latin Fest. In June, 2000,
CUTUMBA was invited to participate in Germany's international
dance festival, followed by performances in four German cities.
Their popularity at the EDINBURGH FOLK FESTIVAL in August of
2001 has garnered them a second invitation for 2002. In 2002,
the group was featured performers at the international NEW ZEALAND
FESTIVAL.
They were featured artists at BAM's DanceAfrica in New York,
DanceAfrica in Chicago and El Festival Cubano in Philadelphia.
RECORDINGS
Cutumba has recorded their music on various occasions. On compact
disc their music can be found on:
*CUTUMBA BALLET FOLKLORICO (EGREM CD0256, 1997, Santiago de
Cuba). This recording features Cutumba's singers and musicians
performing highlights from their repertoire, including music
of the Yoruba tradition, vodún, gagá, merengue
haitiano, tumba francesa, congas santiagueras, rumba (columbia
and guaguancó). Traditional instruments of these manifestations
are played by Cutumba's masters on this quality CD.
*REAL RUMBA-La Rumba Está Buena (CORASON). Cutumba's
musicians and singers can also be heard on this CD recorded
in Mexico. One of the two CUTUMBA offerings on this CD was recorded
with the legendary singer, Carlos Embales.
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