Bembé, Salón y Calle

Bembé, Salón y Calle is a dynamic evening of dance, live music and visual art featuring Afro-Cuban Orishas, Rumba, Salsa, Chá-chá-chá and contemporary dance theater that premiered at the Hostos Center for Arts & Culture to a sold out house in March 2010. The performance creatively celebrates the legacy of Cuban dance and music by integrating tradition and innovation and highlights the culture’s impact in present day New York City. Among the evening’s special performances include: live musical stage jam sessions by renowned Cuban-born, Grammy-nominated master drummers Pedrito Martínez and master percussionists Román Díaz, along with the legendary multi-instrumentalist Onel Mulet, who is noted for his performances with Johnny Pacheco, José Luis Rodríguez “El Puma” and Celia Cruz, among others; New group works created by guest choreographers Rebecca Bliss and Mad Hat Ballroom’s Rodney López, seamlessly blend folkloric, Afro-Cuban and contemporary dance techniques that examine the joys and complications of human, social and political relationships. Encapsulating the evening’s spirit, Carlos Mateu and José Ortiz, offer visual representations of the legacy and heritage of Cuban music and dance.