MIT Office of the Arts 
(Published in Tech Talk 2/7/1996)
With riveting choreography and a sumptuous array of costumes, Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba (Cuban National Folkloric Dance Ensemble), a company of 40 dancers and musicians, will present their Boston debut performance on Sunday, Feb. 11, 1996 at 4pm at Kresge Auditorium. Founded in Havana in 1962 by renowned Cuban folklorist Rogelio Martinez Fure, the ensemble has carefully collected, preserved and revived the wealth of Cuba's diverse cultural traditions through a theatrical repertoire of over 70 contemporary and traditional works.
Popular dance genres such as cha-cha, mambo and despelote, dances dedicated to the Orishas (deities) of the Afro-Cuban Santeria religion, country dances, rumbas and guajiras are included in the repertoire of this company, internationally recognized as the leading exponent of Afro-Cuban dance and music traditions.
The Cuban National Folk Dance Ensemble is currently led by one of Cuba's most acclaimed choreographers, Manolo Micler, with Mr. Fure serving as artistic director. Over the years, the ensemble has developed a highly effective presentation style in which each work has been carefully crafted to fulfill contemporary theatrical requirements without compromising the work's traditional roots.
Prior to their performance, the ensemble will present a free percussion workshop/demonstration, sponsored by the MIT Office of the Arts, from 11am- 12:30pm at Twenty Chimneys in the Stratton Student Center. Space is limited.
The performance is sponsored by World Music with Inquilinos Barucuas en Accion. Tickets are $22, $18 and are available at all TicketMaster outlets. To charge tickets call World Music at 876-4275 or TicketMaster at 931-2000. For more information call World Music at 876-4275.