Much like the demographic they mirror and serve, Latino arts have expanded exponentially both in breadth and depth. Generational changes have sparked the blending of America’s classic ballet and hip-hop, for example, with the physical lexicons of a polyrhythmic Afro-Latino culture. Drawing from history and technique, these four innovative dance companies embody the shifts that have made way for the exquisite fusion of various dance cultures.
Abakuá Afro-Latin Dance Company
Co-founded in 2000 by New York City native Frankie Martinez and Aisha Koswara, Abakuá combines classic salsa with grounded Afro-Caribbean movements and touches of modern dance and ballet. With a background in martial arts, Martinez has revolutionized the salsa scene. Made up of six members, plus Martinez, the dancers’ experience adds West African, classical ballet, and modern dance, as well as Puerto Rican folklore training, to the melting pot that is Abakuá. The company is currently working to raise funds for a theatrical release of its current and future repertoire; the works include “Raices,” an examination of the melding of African and Caribbean culture, “Stills,” “After Hour Funk,”
Leave a Reply