The zen of dance
When I was 7, I first saw ballet at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. It was the Royal Ballet from London, performing “Swan Lake”. I still remember the principal dancers: David Wall and Monica Mason. I went backstage with my parents to get autographs. I will never forget the MOUNTAIN of toe shoes in the corner of Ms. Mason’s dressing room.
Fast forward 11 years, and I’m sitting in an outdoor cafe in Spain, waiting for the flamenco dancer to appear. And she did, in a flaming red ruffled dress, behind the musicians who set the mood with guitar strums and compas (rhythmic clapping).
I was hooked.
I vowed someday to try flamenco, and another 10 years later, I did – I taught Vancouver flamenco dancer/teacher Rosario Ancer’s kids piano, in exchange for dance classes.
Dancing is the most zen thing ever – you REALLY are “in the moment” because if your mind wanders for even a second, you lose the beat, the choreography, everything. And flamenco is such an intense, inward dance, hot and cold at the same time – both dancer and audience must be focussed.
To balance out the intensity of flamenco, there is the dance of Cuba – warm, overtly friendly, reaching out to audience members, with dance roots in Africa. Now, imagine combining the two, and you have Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba.
This dance troupe has played to sell-out crowds in Canada a few years ago, and it’s back to tour the country again. The tour features “Fuerza y Compás”, which means “Strength and Rhythm”. LADC is comprised of 16-18 extremely buff women who dance a combo of Spanish flamenco and Cuban/Afro-Cuban dance, with 6 musicians in tow. LADC makes its Markham Theatre debut March 16 at 8 PM.
It’ll be March break, so if you and your family are doing the “staycation” thing, consider heating up a chilly night in March by checking out the hot music of this amazing dance troupe.
See you there!
Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba / Markham Theatre debut / 171 Town Centre Boulevard (Warden & Hwy #7) / Tuesday, March 16 at 8 PM / $44, $49, $59 / Box office: Mon-Fri, 11-6 / 905 305 SHOW (7469). FREE PARKING.
http://www.stationbleue.com/artistes.e/alfonsodancecuba_li.concerts.php
