Arts-and-Culture

PHOTOS: Afrocaribbean Movements with Dominican Republic Dancers

As part of a cultural exchange, three professional dancers, members of the National Dance Company from Dominican Republic, came to UNC to teach workshops and perform at the ¡Bailamos! concert.

September 19, 2024

The School of Music in the College of Performing and Visual Arts welcomed three contemporary dancers from Dominican Republic as part of a cultural exchange with the main cultural institution in the country, Dirección General de Bellas Artes (General Secretary of Fine Arts), and the College.

This visit was part of a bigger intercultural exchange that started last summer when students and faculty UNC's Jazz Program traveled to the Caribbean island to give and receive musical instruction and to perform at the 50th anniversary of the National Theatre in Santo Domingo.

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Mildred Rubirosa, Jonas Padilla and Wileydy Contrera, who are all part of the National Company of Contemporary Dance, taught contemporary and folkloric dance during their visit. They closed their visit with an astonishing performance at the ¡Bailamos!A Night of Afro-Dominican Music & Dance concert on Friday, Sept. 13. The show was organized by Dominican musician and faculty member Sócrates García, director of the Music Technology and Recording Arts Program at UNC.

Check out these photos of the dancers during a rehearsal for the concert:

Jonas in the center Mildred to the left and Wyleydy to the right Mildred Rubirosa (left), Jonas Padilla (center) and Wileydy Contrera (right) practicing with the Jazz ensamble.

The three dancers smiling at the camera In an interview, Rubirosa (right) shared that she felt like UNC students were very receptive and welcoming, making her feel at home.

Socrates Garcia conduction at National Theatre in Santo Domingo Director of Music Technology Socrates Garcia presented his original work and conducted the concert. Garcia is also from Dominican Republic.

Brass winds at the jazz ensamble García's work is a fusion of contemporary jazz with traditional afrocaribbean beats. Here, the brass winds of the jazz ensamble during the rehearsal.

Jonas dancing with a chair "We are a very complex culture that mixes the African, the Indigenous and the Spanish influences," shared Rubirosa.

audience at the Dominican Republic National Theatre Contrera (photo) shared how the afrocaribbean rhythms are usually very joyful, so the students were very excited to learn about them.

Dancers practicing Contrera also mentioned the importance of Palos a traditional dance with deep religious meaning.

Mildred Rubirosa The performance was received with a lot of interest and excitement from the audience.

Percusionist The tambor mayor (main or big drum) is a fundamental instrument in Afrocaribbean music. According to Rubirosa, it is a direct influence from África. In the picture, percussionist Pablito "Drums" Peña.

Concert rehearsal with dancers During the rehearsal, some of the movements had to be adjusted, because the musical piece included some improvisation, due to it's jazz influence.