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Centro Nacional de la Música Popular Calle 1ra # 1010 e/ 10 y 12

Miramar PlayaTelef: 209 3264

203 0801 - 05Telefax: 537 (204 0184)

Correo: mp@cubarte.cult.cu

OVERVIEW

Obini Bata was formed from female members of the Cuban National FolkloricGroup as an independent group in 1993, as a result of an artistic concern of itscreators since 1991. In their show music, song, and dance are mixed with the rhythm of the Batadrum. It offers a different image regarding to the role of the woman within thecomplexity of Afrocuban music, wherein, though the strong line of the drum,their feminine charm is preserved. Because it includes not only beats, songs and dances of African roots, but alsoother genres that include composition of such major composers as Sindo

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Garay, Ernesto Lecuona, Moisés Simons, Benny Moré and many others, itoffers a rhythmic originality and a different way of doing things that makes usenjoy, with a set of percussion instruments, different rhythms such as: son,guaracha, mambo, bolero, merengue, rumba, etc.

Obiní Batá Group does not only propose to the spectator a passive satisfactionof a simple show, but also gets the audience to interact with members of thegroup, demonstrating through this versatility in the show, a work carried out witha special expressiveness and quality.

Obiní: it means woman in Yoruba dialect (Nigeria)

Batá: name given to the fundamental instruments within the Yoruba religion

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OBINI BATA

FEMININE FOLKLORE

ARTISTIC FOUNDATION

Through life, we realize how things that are transmitted from one generation toanother make us distinguished.

That’s why our folklore and its diverse roots (African, Spanish, Franco-Haitian)form our personality together with other aspects, and why we feel very proud ofhaving the possibility to show beats, dances, and songs that belonged to thepast and continue existing in the present, recreating them into a fantasy opento the whole world or the nearest thing to the truth.

It’s our project to demonstrate to the public the importance of women in ourfolklore and their role in the development and interpretation of its beats, dances,and songs, giving a different image mainly inside the Afrocuban musical contextwhere though the strong line of the drum, they keep their feminine charm andbecoming though this the first women not only in Cuba but all over the worldthat carry out this work. This Group mixes beats, songs, and dances into an innovative show, in whichall those aspects are recreated not only in a traditional way but also with acreative imagination.

In order to include different genres and sustain the effort to obtain a betterartistic image we must have:

Ø Domain of the different beats of the bata, bongo, chequere, rumba,cajones, claves, and other instruments of the smallest percussion.

Ø Domain of Afrocuban, Franco-Haitian songs, rumbas and a big repertoireof popular song, etc.

Ø Basic knowledge of the techniques of modern dance and of Cubanfolklore.

We hope that the spectator appreciates in a pleasant way the authenticity ofour Cuban women, in a show that takes them beyond a passive view and thatcalls them to interact with the group until they feel a true identification with us.

We are Obinisas (women) of Drums and Dances, that taste the pleasure ofinterpreting, in a unique way, our popular, traditional, and contemporary music,going from the most tortuous Yemayá dance and song to the most sublimebolero song.

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GROUP MEMBERS

Adonay D`Armas Héctor.

· Main percussionist, dancer and chorus. Graduated from High SchoolInstitute

Adriana Iznaga Letamendi

· Dancer, percussionist and chorus. Graduated from the Art National School(ENA), specialist in Modern Dance and Cuban Folklore

Adairis Amelia Mesa González

· Main percussionist, dancer and chorus. Graduated from High schoolInstitute

Lic. Oralice Cecilia Siverio Puebla

· Dancer, percussionist, and chorus. Graduated from the High Art Institute(ISA); specialist in Cuban folklore dance

Lic. Marisol Blanco Barrios

· Dancer, percussionist, and chorus. Graduated from the National Art School(ENA) and the High Art Institute (ISA) as cuban folklore dancer

Yosvany Hernández Lorencio

· In charge of taking care OF and controlling the musical instruments

Lic. Armando Jaime Casielles

· Manager (Representative)

Lic. Eva Caridad Despaigne Trujillo

· General Manager. Dancer, singer, percussionist. Graduated from theNational School of Art (ENA) as teacher and modern dance dancer andCuban folklore; Graduated in Psychology-pedagogy from the University ofHavana

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REPERTOIRE

TITLE GENRE AUTHOR TIME

Toque Canto y Folklore Yoruba FolkloreBaile a Todos los Orishas

Mamá Inés Tango Congo Eliseo Grenet 4 min.

De que Callada Canción Nicolás GuillenManera Pablo Milanes 4 min.

Son de la Loma Son Miguel Matamoros 4 min.

El Manisero Son-Pregón Moisés Simona 5 min.

Rumberos de Ayer Guaracha Benny Moré 4 min.

Drume Negrita Canción de Cuna Ignacio Villa 4 min.

Yerbero Moderno Son-Pregón Néstor Milí 3 min.

Dos Gardenias Bolero Isolina Carrillo 3:30 min.

Santa Bárbara Son Montuno Celina González 4 min.

Rompiendo la Danzonete Aniceto Díaz 4 min.Rutina

Soy Cubana Son-Guaracha José R.Sanchez 4 min.

Bonito y Sabroso Mambo Benny Moré 4 min.

Como me Gusta Merengue Bebo Valdés 4 min

Siboney Canción Ernesto Lecuona 4:30 min

Balada de Amor Canción Enrique Corona 3: min

Que Manera de Son Luis E. Ríos 3: minQuererte

Danza Ñañiga Canción Ernesto Lecuona 4: min

Balada de Amor Balada Enrique Corona 3: min

Obiní Batá Canción Mirta Ocanto 3: min

Trilogía de Boleros Boleros Benny More

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Opaelé Merengue Haitiano Folklore Oriental 3: min

Beroní Canción Folklore 3:20 min

Ojalá que Llueva Merengue Juan Luis Guerra 3: minCafé

Guantanamera Guajira Joseito Fernández 3: min

Hasta Siempre Canción Carlos Puebla 3: min

Como Yo Te Amé Canción A. Manzanero 3: min

Si Tu Fossi Qui Canción Pino Danielli 3: min

Soledad Canción D.R. 3: min

Estampa de Canciones D.R.Pregones

Chancleta Folklore D.R.

Yambú, GuaguancóColumbía Folklore Folklore

Oda al Tambor Solo de Percusión Adonay 5: min

Elegbá Danza (Eleguá) Folklore 4: min

La Muralla Canción N. Guillen 4: min

La Culebra Afro Obdulio Morales 3: min

Quédate Más Canción Pancho Céspedes 3: min

Pulsando la Lira Folklore Gregorio Hdez 3: min

Bombohio Cao Son Rumba Alfredo Calderón 4: min

Somos las que Canción Rosa Rdguez 3: minSomos

La Reina del Rumba Celeste Mendoza 4: minGuaguancó

Papá Oggún Folklore D.R. 4: min

Papá Montero Yambú D.R. 4: min

La Tradición Canción G. Estefan 4: min

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Quinino Canción N. Guillen 4: min

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PROJECT MANAGERS

Lic. Armando Jaime CasiellesRepresentante Teléf: 53.7.831.7016E-mail: rumbakua@cubarte.cult.cu

Eva Caridad Despaigne TrujilloDirectora GeneralTeléfono: 53.7.861.4226