Havana Rakatan

Posted on August 1, 2011

Havana Rakatan returns to the West End’s Peacock Theatre for a fifth season from September 13 – October 9, 2011. Created by Cuban choreographer and company artistic director Nilda Guerra, the show has toured around the world.

Bringing the rhythm and soul of Havana to London, Havana Rakatan tells the story of over 500 years of dancing on the Caribbean island renowned for its party spirit. The impressive array of dance styles include ancient African rituals, modern forms such as the mambo and the cha cha cha, and, of course, the Cuban salsa. 

The show features live music by Cuban eight-piece band Turquino and singer Geydi Chapman. Havana Rakatan is performed by Ballet Rakatan, one of the most talented and versatile group of dancers to come out of Cuba.

There are free salsa classes for ticket holders on Tuesdays after the show. Tickets start at £15. To book, call Sadler’s Wells box office on 0844 412 4322 or visit www.sadlerswells.com.

Words: Laura Dodge

Nicola Rayner

Nicola Rayner was editor of Dance Today from 2010 to 2015. She has written for a number of publications including The Guardian, The Independent and Time Out Buenos Aires, where she cut her teeth as a dance journalist working on the tango section. Today she continues to dance everything from ballroom to breakdance, with varying degrees of success. Her debut novel, The Girl Before You, was published last year in paperback, ebook and audiobook.