Photo by Alex Boerner

ABOUT

In the six short years since its establishment in 2012, Malpaso Dance Company has already become one of the most sought after Cuban dance companies with a growing international profile. Emphasizing a collaborative creative process, Malpaso is committed to working with top international choreographers while also nurturing new voices in Cuban choreography. The company tours with 11 dancers and is led by its original three founders; resident choreographer and Artistic Director Osnel Delgado, Executive Director Fernando Sáez, and dancer and co-founder Daileidys Carrazana.

An Associate Company of Joyce Theater Productions, Malpaso — together with The Joyce— has commissioned original works from a number of prominent North American choreographers, including Ron K. Brown (Why You Follow), Trey McIntyre (Under Fire), Aszure Barton (Indomitable Waltz), and Emmy-award winning Sonya Tayeh (Face the Torrent).

As a means of foregrounding Cuban choreographers, Malpaso has also recently world-premiered works by company members Beatriz Garcia (Being (Ser)) and Abel Rojo (Carrying Floor), bolstering the list of long-toured pieces by Artistic Director Delgado, notably, Ocaso as well as 24 Hours and a Dog and Dreaming of Lions, which are often accompanied live by Grammy award-winning, Cuban-American composer/pianist Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble.

Most recently the company added Fielding Sixes by the legendary, late Merce Cunningham - adapted for 8 dancers and re-staged by Jamie Scott with new costume and lighting designs by David Quinn and Manuel Da Silva, respectively - and Tabula Rasa by world-renowned Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin to its repertoire. Naharin traveled to Cuba in spring of 2018 specifically to work one on one with Malpaso dancers to crystalize the re-staging of this seldom performed, 30 year old master work.

Liquidotopie by Argentinian choreographer Cecilia Bengolea - commissioned by International Summer Festival Kampnagel out of Hamburg-Germany in summer 2018 - rounds out the Company’s active rep.

Most recently Robyn Mineko Williams created Elemental on the company as part of a collaborative program developed with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, which premiered at the Auditorium Theatre in March 2018. Next up, Malpaso will acquire a specially extended version of Mats Ek’s solo, Woman with Water.

LEADERSHIP

OSNEl DELGADO

Founder, Artistic Director, Dancer, and Choreographer

Osnel Delgado danced with Danza Contemporanea de Cuba from 2003 to 2011, before founding Malpaso. He has worked with choreographers Mats Ek, Rafael Bonachela, Kenneth Kvarnström, Ja Linkens, Itzik Galili, Samir Akika, Pedro Ruiz, Isidro Rolando and George Cespedes, among others. Delgado has created works for DCC, Rakatan and Ebony Dance of Cuba. Delgado is a 2003 graduate of the National Dance School of Havana, where he is also a professor of dance studies.

FERNANDO SÁEZ

Founder and Executive Director

Fernando Sáez graduated from the School of Performing Arts at the Superior Institute of Arts (ISA) in Havana in 1988. He is also a founder and actor of Estudio Teatral de Santa Clara, was the head of the sociocultural development project in Las Terrazas, Pinar del Rio from 1993 to 1997, and has served on the staff of the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba since 1998. He is also a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

DAILEIDYS CARRAZANA

Founder, Associate Artistic Director and Dancer

Daileidys Carrazana graduated from the National Ballet School in Havana in 2003. She was a member of Danza Contemporanea de Cuba from 2003 to 2011, before founding Malpaso with Osnel Delgado. Daile has worked with choreographers such as Mats Ek, Jan Linkens, Samir Akika, Pedro Ruiz and Isidro Rolando, among others.

Photos by Todd Rosenberg