Tomás Guilarte and Suki rehearsing her work, BarrigaBestia in Narciso Medina's Calle 8 studio in Havana
photo by David Garten
CUBA
Suki John is a passionate advocate for Cuban dance -- as a choreographer, performer, and writer. On the island she has choreographed for Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Compañia Narciso Medina, Danza Espiral, and Danza Contemporánea de Cuba, and the National Schools of Dance (El ISA and La ENA). She has created six original works with Havana Love Letters composer Joel Diamond. Her acclaimed book, Contemporary Dance in Cuba: TécnicaCubana as Revolutionary Movement, is a personal and scholarly account of Cuban dance. She founded Cuban Arts Match, which partners with AltruVistas Travel, to bring Cuban and North American art and artists together.
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Havana Love Letters
Cartas de Amor / Havana Love Letters is a new choreodrama inspired by Havana, by Cuban dancers and musicians, by poet Nicolas Guillen & painter Wilfredo Lam and by Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s beloved novel, Love in the Time of Cholera.
The themes of romance, hope, and patience offer important ideals in these times of change...
With a passion for Cuban dance, choreographer Suki John combines contemporary moves with the story-telling magic of classical ballet.
Suki joined with New York-based composer, Joel Diamond, whose enchanting composition weaves Latin American rhythms and poetry into a lush new score.
In 2016, Havana Love Letters was shown as a work in progress during the Festival de las Artes in Havana, and in excerpted form at CAP 21 in New York City and at Texas Christian University's School for Classical & Contemporary Dance. Now the creative team is working to bring Havana Love Letters to a major professional company in the U.S.
For Joel and Suki, it’s a chance to bring Havana Love Letters to life, to tell a story of love in its many twisted and redemptive forms, and to work with spectacular Cuban artists. These men and women have inspired us to keep making dances that spark ideas and optimism in audiences – no matter what the language or location – for 22 years.