Festival to shake things up

DANCE: People will get to experience Cuban dance and culture through the Aotearoa Cuban Festival. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A week of boogying fun, letting loose and hip shaking is in store for Rotorua next week with the Aotearoa Cuban Festival set to shake up the town.

Festival creative director Greydis Montero Liranza says this will be the fourth festival in
Rotorua and as part of it they provide a week of free activities for the community.

These activities include Cuban dance and fitness classes, as well as a "warm up" party at the Night Market. The Night Market on Thursday, March 2 will offer classes, demonstrations and interactive entertainment with international artists and local dance schools involved.

Greydis says the public will be able to enjoy the show at the market, but at the same time take part and celebrate Cuban culture and dance. She says it is also a taster as to what will happen at the Cuban dance showcase on Saturday, which is followed by a dance party.

The showcase will have a range of performances, including some by international artists, and children from Greydis Dance will be opening it.

She says she is expecting the audience to be taken on a journey through Cuban music, culture and dance.

The highlight for Greydis of running the free classes leading up the showcase is bringing cultures together, and she says it is lucky the festival is able to be held in a city which is so multicultural.

"It's a joy to see everyone come together as a united family," Greydis says.

She says they are very blessed to have the support of many institutions in Rotorua, such as QE Health and the Rotorua Youth Centre, and many different institutions which help with funding to make the festival possible.

One of the best things about dance is that it is therapeutic, and somewhere you are able to not worry about things and can let go. Greydis Dance team member Andrea Mills said the Aotearoa Cuban Festival is a great opportunity to expose New Zealanders to something new and unique that they generally did not get to be a part of.

It also allowed the average New Zealander to step out of their comfort zone, she says.

"I find it inspirational, the way that Cubans are so open with expression, so free to dance without any restraints."

Greydis has been in Rotorua for two years and Greydis Dance was created just over a year ago. Originating from Havana in Cuba, Greydis is an award winning and highly accredited dancer with more than 20 years of experience in the dance world.

She spent six years training at the Cuban National School of Art 'ENA'.

Greydis settled in New Zealand in 2002 after her worldwide tour as choreographer and principal dancer in Lady Salsa. She has also found work in films and on television, such as Shortland Street, Whale Rider, the Good Morning Show and Pukana.

She is currently the only professional Cuban female dancer, choreographer, tutor and judge in New Zealand.

Aotearoa Cuban Festival
- Monday, February 27: Free Rueda Beginners Class, QE Health, 1073
Whakaue St, 6.30pm. Free Intro Taster Class, CheChorizo, 1151 Arawa St,
7.30pm
- Tuesday, February 28: Free Latin Fitness Class, QE Health, 1073
Whakaue St, 6pm. Free Explore CubanRoots Class, QE Health, 1073
Whakaue St, 7pm.
- Wednesday, March 1: Free Salsa and ReudaClass, QE Health, 1073
Whakaue St, 6pm to 8pm (6pm beginner class, 7pm Rueda with Israel)
- Thursday, March 2: Free Cuban entertainment at the Night Market on
Tutanekai St, 5pm to 8pm
- Saturday, March 4: CubanShowcase and Party, Rotorua Energy
Events Centre, 8pm until late, $45, tickets available from Ticketmaster

Shauni James is the Rotorua Weekender editor.