DANCES OF
THE ORISHA
Afro-Cuban Dance Technique
with José
Francisco Barroso
Produced by Obakoso Dance Co.
Instructional DVD - 112 minutes Learn African Cuban folkloric dance from master
teacher José Francisco Barroso as he guides students on a
journey through the Orishas (Yoruba deities) from beginner basics, such
as stepping in rhythm with clave, to the more advanced movements and
characterizations demonstrated in his explosive soloing. Live detailed
instruction and demonstration is given for the dances of
Elegbá, Ogún, Oshún,
Yemayá, Shangó and Oyá as well
as the three types of rumba (Yambú,
Guaguancó & Columbia).
All instruction is accompanied by a live group of
musicians singing Orisha songs and performing on Batá
drums featureing Ramon “Sandy” Perez,
principal percussionist of group Afro-Cuba de Matanzas; Ysidro Valor
Perez of Havana’s Clave y Guaguanco; dancer Yismari Ramos of
Ballet de la televicion Cubana; Jose Luis Gomez, singer with Fito
Reinoso y su Armonia; and many others.
José Francisco Barroso (Ifa Jokoo) is a native of
Havana, Cuba. Barroso began his study of Afro-Cuban folkloric
dance under the direction of Juan de Dios Ramos while dancing in Cuba's
renowned folkloric company Raices Profundas. Living in the U.S. for the
last decade, Barroso is regarded as among the foremost specialists of
African Cuban dance, music, and cultural tradition; teaching and
lecturing at numerous universities and cultural centers throughout the
U.S. and internationally.
As a
practitioner within the spiritual tradition of the Yoruba people,
Barroso was first initiated as an Omo Elegbara and then as an Ifa
priest under the sacred odu: Osa Ogunda. Through his constant
research and dedication to authenticity, Barroso is committed to
studying, maintaining, and sharing the profound knowledge of African
Cuban culture. In 1996 Jose Francisco Barroso founded Obakoso Drum
& Dance Ensemble, a group devoted to preserving the profound
knowledge living within traditional African Cuban folkloric music and
dance.
