Photo by Rose Eichenbaum
ABOUT
In the ten years since its establishment in 2012, Malpaso Dance Company has 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 Daile Carrazana.
An Associate Company of Joyce Theater Productions, Malpaso — together with The Joyce— has commissioned original works from a number of prominent international choreographers, including Ron K. Brown (Why You Follow), Trey McIntyre (Under Fire), Aszure Barton (Indomitable Waltz and Stillness in Bloom), Emmy-award winning Sonya Tayeh (Face the Torrent) and Robyn Mineko Williams (Elemental).
As a means of foregrounding Cuban choreographers, Malpaso recently has also world-premiered a work by company member Daile Carrazana (Nana para un Insomnio (Lullaby for Insomnia)) bolstering the list of long-toured pieces by Artistic Director Osnel 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.
The company’s repertory includes Tabula Rasa by world-renowned Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin, who 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 piece; and woman with water by the distinguished Swedish choreographer Mars Ek, who also travel to Havana to premier the work at Martí Theatre on December 2021.
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
COMPANY MEMBERS
(Dancer) Before joining Malpaso in February 2016, Esteban studied dance at ISA (Superior Institute of Arts)'s Faculty of Dance and was a member of Danza Fragmentada Company (2002-2014). He has worked with choreographers like Aszure Barton and Osnel Delgado.
(Dancer) graduated from the Regional Dance School Manuel Munoz Cedeno in Bayamo in 2009. She was a member of Danza Libre de Guantanamo from 2010 to 2013 before joining Malpaso.
(Dancer) graduated in 2017 from the Professional School of Art in Guantánamo City. He was a member of CoDanza Dance Company from 2017 to December of 2019. He joined Malpaso on April 1st, 2020.
(Dancer) is a 2009 graduate from the Regional Dance School Manuel Munoz Cedeno in Bayamo, Cuba. He was a member of Danza Libre of Guantanamo from 2010 to 2013 before joining Malpaso.
(Dancer) graduated in 2018 from the National School of Arts in Havana as a dancer and dance teacher. She joined Malpaso Dance Company in June 2017.
(Dancer) is a dancer and dance teacher who graduated from Raul Gomez García Art School in Holguín, Cuba. She was a member of Codanza Dance Company from 2006 to 2013. From 2006 to 2008 she also worked as professor at José Martí Pérez Arts Instructors School. She joined Danza Contemporánea de Cuba in 2015. She became a member of Malpaso Dance Company in 2019. Ileana has worked with choreographers such as Theo Clinkard, Billy Cowie, Lea Anderson, Fleur Darken and Anabel López Ochoa, among others.
Graduated from the Benny Moré Vocational School of Art in Cienfuegos, Cuba on 2011. Graduated from the National School of Dance in Havana, Cuba on 2016. She joined Danza Contemporánea de Cuba (DCC) on 2016. She received workshops and danced works by renowned national and international teachers and choreographers such as: Billy Cowie, Lea Elizabeth Anderson, George Céspedes, Theo Clinkard, Fleur Dankin, Anabel López Ochoa, Isael Mata, Miguel Altunaga. As a member of DCC she extensively performed
Graduated from the National Ballet School in 2018. As student he was awarded in several international contests. He was a member of the Cuban National Ballet from 2018 to 2022 as a principal dancer. With this company he performed and toured nationally and abroad. He has danced works by choreographers such as Alicia Alonso, Gemma Bond, Alexei Ratmansky, Ely Regina, Ricardo Amarante and Ben Stevenson, among others. He joined Malpaso Dance Company on June 2022.
Student at the Vocational Dance School, She graduated from the National Dance School at Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba Faculty. She joined Malpaso Dance Company on January 2022.
Graduated from Eduardo Abela Elemental Art School in San Antonio de Los Baños and from the National Dance School in Havana Cuba on June 2022. He joined Malpaso Dance Company right after his graduation.
(Stage Manager) graduated from the National School of Arts with a degree in acting in 2008. She is a member of Teatro Espontáneo de La Habana and Mefisto Teatro. Hernandez worked in the HavanaBama collaboration between the University of Alabama and Cuba. She joined Malpaso in March 2014.
(Production and Company Manager) is an artist, writer, and performer who assists other artists in producing their own work. In NYC, he worked with the late Magnificent Fred Ho and the Afro-Asian Music Ensemble, the experimental theater collective Mabou Mines, and for ten years toured as the Production Manager for the Paul Taylor Dance Company. Carlino is currently the Tour and Production Manager for both Aszure Barton’s Where There’s Form and for Malpaso Dance Company’s international tours.
(Lighting Supervisor) was born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised in South Florida where he developed a passion for theatre and the arts at a young age. Manuel attended The University of North Carolina School of the Arts where he received his BFA in Lighting Design and Technology. Now an NYC based lighting designer, Manuel has had the chance to work with several Off-Broadway theatre companies. He is a lighting designer at Arc3design where he works on projects spanning from architecture to dance.
Graduated from the Vocational Dance School Alfonso Perez Isaac in Matanzas, Cuba in 2004. Graduated from the National Ballet School Fernando Alonso, in Havana, Cuba on 2008. She joined Danza Espiral from Matanzas city in 2008, where she danced until 2014. She has worked with choreographers such as Suki John, Lilian Padrón among others. She worked as a dance teacher at the National Dance School in Havana from 2013 to 2017. She graduated from the Superior Institute of Arts on 2015 where she worked
Photos by Todd Rosenberg and Daileidys Carrazana
CONTACT
BOOKINGS & TOUR MANAGEMENT
SHARING SPACES PRODUCTIONS
Barbara Frum - barbara@sharingspacesproductions.com - 416 727 0725
JOYCE THEATER PRODUCTIONS
Ross LeClair - rleclair@joyce.org