Alma Latina celebrates the rhythms that influenced the music,
dance and history of Latin America

Act I

El Mercado    1800

Traditional stages of Hispanic people that define the culture of Latin America.

EL MERCADO (The Market)  / STEALING THE FRUIT / NO, NO, NO! / LOS NOVIOS (Lovers) / LAS REZANDERAS (Praying women)

All Right! (To Bob Marley)  1968

Africa, Jamaica and Reggae. LITTLE BIRDS / ALL RIGHT

Jamaica’s folklore culture, reggae is hypnotic, trance music - zero degree music, infused by the anger and protest of the lyrics.

Oh, Cuba Hermosa!      1950 -1990

The reflection of a culture that loves to have a good time.

FIESTA & DANZON / PATRIA MIA (My Mother Country) / CUBANO EN NUEVA YORK / NOSTALGIA

A Lorca     1933-1934

Inspired by poems from “Bodas de Sangre” (Blood Wedding) and “Yerma” by Federico Garcia Lorca.

From "Blood Wedding"

(Concerned with love that cannot become marriage among the primitive hill people of Castile)

I didn’t want to; remember that! I didn’t want to.

Your son was my destiny and I have not betrayed him,

but the other one’s arm dragged me along like the pull of the sea,

like the head toss of a mule,

and he would have dragged me always, always, always –

even if I were an old woman

and all your son’s sons held me by the hair!

From "Yerma"

(The whole tragic burden of Yerma is measured by the deepening of her struggle

with the problem of frustrated motherhood.)

Oh what pain of imprisoned blood

Is nailing wasps at my brain’s base!

But you must come, sweet love, my baby,

Because water gives salt, the earth fruit,

And our wombs guard tender infants,

Just as a cloud is sweet with rain.

Lord make blossom the yellow rose,

Leave not my rose in shadow

Act II

Strangers in Strange Land      1880-1940

Symbolizing the hopes, successes and failures of the millions of people who immigrated to Argentina in the 1880’s.  Featuring the Milonga, music and dance created by European immigrants in Argentina with African and Indian influences in which the Tango has its origin.

IMMIGRANTS / DANZAR PARA OLVIDAR (Dance to forget)  / NIÑAS BUENAS NO BAILAN TANGO (Good Girls Do Not Dance Tango)  / TANGO PARA DOS /NOSTALGIA

Suite Santana

“One day there will be no borders, no boundaries, no flags and no countries and the only passport will be the heart” - Carlos Santana

MARIA  / LA PORTUGUESA  / SMOOTH & CHA  / A TODA SANTANA

Por Siempre el Rey del Mambo (To the Great Tito Puente)

Four time Grammy award winner, Latino Ambassador of Good Will, Doctor of Arts and Sciences, Internationally acclaimed performer - there are simply not enough words to describe Tito Puente, the greatest.

For more information, please email us to latinballet.va@verizon.net  or call The Latin Ballet of Virginia at (804) 261-6200 or (804) 740-4080.

Photography by Jeff S. Saxman