Cuban and Scandinavian Artistic Event in Havana 2012
Memory Wax and Retazos have collaborated since 2006 in various educational and artistic projects including workshops involving children and adults in Havana. Both companies are active partners in the international network for outdoor dance festivals – Ciudades que Danzan. Habana Transitos is part of the three year long collaboration project; Retazos Evoluciona – Reach Out OverSeas financed through an EU grant application, Europe Aid. Photography, film, stage art and music from Scandinavia will be presented publicly, while developing valuable assets; exchange of experiences between Cuban and Scandinavian artists.
The project is also supported by: Malmö Culture Committee, Region Skåne and The Swedish Arts Council.
Danza Teatro Retazos, Retazos is Cuba’s leading company in the field of contemporary dance and celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Retazos host the Habana-Transitos week and will be performing the children show El Pais de la sombras /Shadowland by Memory Wax. Read more www.danzateatroretazos.cu
The music documentary screenings and concerts are arranged in collaboration with Music Doc – Sweden’s most prominent music documentary film festival, bringing the planet top quality Nordic music documentaries and culture! Music Doc presents screenings and events in Valparaiso, Chile, Havana, New York, Malmö and Copenhagen this year.
The Sound of Noise, by directors Ola Simonsson and Johannes Stjärne Nilsson.
The Extraordinary life of Jose Gonzalez, by directors Mikael Cee Karlsson and Fredrik Egerstrand
The Black Power Mix tape, by director Göran Hugo Olsson
Photo exhibition Catch the Movement, portrays dance in urban landscapes during festivals Transit-City in Motion/City Hoppers Malmö Sweden. Read more
Cult Boa, Lisa Nordström from Sweden and Michala Østergaard-Nielsen from Denmark join forces in the new constellation CULT BOA. Heavy beats, distorted vocals and Tibetan bowls meet when electronic and acoustic sounds build an organic and intriguing experience supported by visuals, creating an experience beyond the limitations of genres.
Don* Gnu is collaboration between the two choreographers Jannik Elkær Nielsen & Kristopher Louis Andrup Pedersen from Denmark. The cooperation is based on – and aims to create -”A creative and unpredictable interaction where they strive to provide innovative and alternative perspectives”.
Maria Naidu is a dancer, teacher and choreographer from Sweden. For many years she worked with Jennifer Muller in New York. Maria Naidu is one of the few teachers of the Muller Polarity technique and gives classes to professionals all over the world.
Short film Bränner Staden is about shaking the life back into things that have become stuck in patterns, about the feeling of being trapped somewhere which feels smaller every day. It is calling on the city to give something back, to challenge and”be my drug” in the sentence of overwhelming us with its full potential and persuade us to stay when we threaten to leave or even burn it to the ground.
The film combines theatrical expression with everyday situations resulting in eight poetic minutes with eight dancers, four band members and a whole bunch of Malmö milieus, known and unknown.
Skånes Dansteater, Swedish band Gaby and the Guns, accompanied by director Olof Werngren and photographer Martin Lang make up the creative team behind Bränner Staden.
Skånes Dansteater is Sweden’s largest independent dance company, a contemporary dance repertory company presenting works by Swedish and international choreographers. Performances are given on the company’s own stage as well as at the Malmö Opera and national and international tours. Read more www.skanesdansteater.se
Gaby and the Guns are a Swedish folk-influenced quartet. Founding members Gaby Ryd and Jens Almqvist where joined by David Calgaro and Fabian Ris Lundblad in 2010. The band tours frequently, spreading their sincere and beautiful songs. Read more www.gabyandtheguns.com
Olof Werngren – Scriptwriter and Director lives in Malmö, Sweden. He has written scripts and directed music videos for Swedish music artists, and is currently working on a documentary, freelancing as a graphic designer and lecturing Visual Communication at Malmö University.
Martin Lang – Director of Photography has his base in Malmö, Sweden. He has worked with, feature films, commercials, music videos, short films et cetera.
Background information
Memory Wax and Retazos have collaborated since 2006 in various educational and artistic projects including workshops involving children and adults in Havana. Both companies are active partners in the international network for outdoor dance festivals – Ciudades que Danzan. The festival is part of the three year long collaboration project ; Retazos Evoluziona, financed through an EU grant application under the thematic program of non state actors and local authorities. Retazos, Memory Wax and the Portuguese organization OIKOS are partners in this project. The objective is to develop a stable base for regular professional exchanges between Cuba and the Scandinavian countries. The aim is to strengthen Retazos infrastructure, creating an arts center in close cooperation and expertise exchange with Scandinavian artists and organizations.
Habana Transitos is a major component. Photography, film, stage art and music from Scandinavia will be presented publicly, while developing valuable assets; exchange of experiences between Cuban and Scandinavian artists.
With the support of the Ministry of Culture in Cuba and the Swedish Embassy in Cuba.