The Joyce Theater has been involved with the Cuban dance community since 2001. We’ve led groups to Cuba to experience the island’s rich culture; we’ve commissioned American artists to make work in Cuba; and we’ve brought Cuban companies to the United States to perform at The Joyce and elsewhere.
Using its people-to-people license, The Joyce has led 273 dance colleagues and supporters on 17 trips that have helped bridge the gap with this nearby country through cultural and artistic exchange.
Danza Contemporánea de Cuba—the first Cuban dance company to perform at The Joyce Theater—was presented in a nearly sold-out two-week engagement during New York’s ¡Si Cuba! Festival in May 2011, as part of the company’s first U.S. tour, which was spearheaded by The Joyce.
The Joyce took Brooklyn-based choreographer Ronald K. Brown to Cuba to select a company to work with on a new commission. Brown selected Cuba’s Malpaso Dance Company, one of only a handful of newly emerged, independent Cuban dance companies that does not receive government support.
The Joyce presented Malpaso Dance Company in its first performances outside of Cuba in May 2014, in an engagement featuring Ronald K. Brown’s Por Que Sigues (Why You Follow), which Mr. Brown created in Havana during his Joyce-supported creative residency; and Malpaso’s Artistic Director Osnel Delgado’s work 24 Horas y un Perro (24 Hours and a Dog), set to music -featuring an original overture- composed by the Grammy-award winner Arturo O’Farrill.
Supported by Joyce Theater Productions, a new initiative of The Joyce Theater Foundation in partnership with Sunny Artist Management, Malpaso’s 2015–2016 U.S. touring season included 25 performances in 15 cities located in 12 states. Through Joyce Theater Productions, the company continues to tour the nation.
Continuing its program supporting the creation of new works by U.S.-based choreographers for Malpaso Dance Company, The Joyce provided commission and travel support for Trey McIntyre in 2015. The Joyce presented Malpaso Dance Company in its second weeklong engagement at The Joyce Theater in spring 2015, in a program featuring Mr. McIntyre’s Under Fire and Mr. Delgado’s Despedida/Farewell, also set to an original score by Grammy-award winner Arturo O’Farrill.
In May 2016, The Joyce presented a 12-day festival highlighting Cuban dance at The Joyce Theater, May 10–22, 2016, featuring Malpaso Dance Company, DanceAbierta, and Irene Rodríguez Compañía.
The Joyce elected to send a third choreographer to Cuba to create new work. In June 2016, Aszure Barton traveled to Cuba to create a new commission for Malpaso Dance Company. The troupe will perform the work at The Joyce and elsewhere on tour beginning in Spring 2017.
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Cuban Dance Community Project Supporters (2012 to present) |
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Association of Performing Arts Presenters |
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Diana and Dick Beattie |
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Rob and Nancy Chimsky/Campo Di Sogni Foundation |
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Robert Sterling Clark Foundation |
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Con Edison |
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Doris Duke Charitable Foundation |
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Jane Z. Fitzsimmons |
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Todd Gordon and Susan Feder |
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Jerome L. Greene Foundation in honor of Karen Brooks Hopkins |
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Christopher Haun |
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Katie Heil/Heil Family Foundation |
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Joan and Jerry Lozinski |
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Luminato Festival |
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The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation |
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Bruce G. Miller and Melanie Coronetz |
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New England Foundation for the Arts' National Dance Project |
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Anh-Tuyet Nguyen and Robert Pollock |
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Jodi Peck/Peck Foundation, Milwaukee LTD |
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Rockefeller Brothers Fund |
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Lisa and Richard Witten |
More on The Joyce's work with Cuba