Description
They show “the other side”, as their name suggests: the Havana-based company OtroLado, founded in 2018, loves dramatic dance, a still unusual blend for Cuba of classical ballet and folkloric avant-garde. However, the company's head choreographer Norge Cedeño does not necessarily anchor his premieres in specific stories, but rather in ideas that are developed and told through bodies; like all Cuban dancers, his performers have mastered both classical and modern styles. Cedeño was one of the outstanding soloists of Danza Contemporánea de Cuba, Cuba’s famous contemporary-dance ensemble. He is currently being discovered as a choreographer by companies in Europe such as Aterballetto, Acosta Danza and Birmingham Royal Ballet, and he already has a history with COLOURS as a contributor to “Meet the Talents”.
His piece Paradox is a dark chamber play about a woman torn between two men – or two memories? In stormy, highly emotional lifts, Cedeño shows his protagonist’s love for two mysteriously contradictory shadows. Ritual Garden evokes a journey of female self-discovery in the warm colors of the Orient: an object in the sand triggers an ancient ritual that releases an animalistic nature before a woman discovers the light within herself. Through danced images, exciting music, sophisticated lighting and thrilling, expressive performers, OtroLado delves into the depths of the soul.
Duration: approx. 90 minutes with intermission
Age guidance: from 6 years
The more of OtroLado's work I see, the more I am surprised and inspired by it. It immerses us in a journey full of surprises and rugged beauty that makes you forget everything else. — Cubarte
His ability to shake up the more or less established vocabulary, isolating sequences and dynamics that may seem arduous at first glance but perfectly fit into the overall plan of the choreographer, is remarkable. The path to the climax, to the coda, proves to be fast, spectacular, and unsettling. — La Jiribilla
The works created by the dancer Norge Cedeño are a marvel of physical expression. His finely synchronized dynamics are rooted in the expressiveness of music full of dissonances, minimalist costumes, captivating visuals, and the powerful performance of the dancers. — Cubanet
With Cedeño, one is “strapped” into the present moment in this great caravan we call life. His works, crafted with detailed beauty, remind us of this through their excellent interpretations and performers. — CubaEscena
The dancers of Compañía OtroLado, whose lyrical movements and haunting presence throughout the show were utterly entrancing. — Broadway World
