World Entertainment Stage
At our 2008 Show audiences were captivated by performances which brought the sights and sounds of cultures from around the world to life. This global extravaganza at The Times presents Destinations: The Holiday and Travel Show showcased diverse dance acts including native African, Flamenco, Jive, Brazilian Capoeira, Colombian and Indian Bollywood dance.
FLAMING FLAMENCO with
AMARITA VARGAS AND COMPANY
Amarita Vargas and Company present an exhilarating set of authentic flamenco music and dance. Four dancers, a flamenco singer and guitarist bring you the best of this passionate, deep and haunting cultural experience. The roots of flamenco are ancient - originating from the gypsies who migrated out of India many centuries ago. It also contains elements of Arabic music and draws on the multicultural origins of the people who have settled in Andalucia. Flamboyant, colourful, vibrant and passionate, flamenco is a powerful expression of deep feeling and a total connection with the moment.
Philippines Department Of Tourism presents
WOW COLOURS OF THE PHILIPPINES with Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Group
The Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Company is a London-based Philippine cultural dance troupe formed in April 1994. The dance company received the prestigious "Banaag Award" from the President of the Republic of the Philippines for their dedication in promoting Filipino heritage and culture through dances and songs not only in the United Kingdom but also in Europe. Its reputation for quality, authenticity and innovation has led to a wide acclaim for performances all over the U.K. and in the Irish Republic. They have also performed during the 2004 Asian Festival in Stockholm, Sweden.
Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board presents
THE MAGIC OF MALAYSIA
Music and dance are almost inseparable in the Malaysian culture. Where there is one, the other is not far behind. True to Malaysia's heritage, dances vary widely and are, if not imports direct from the source nation, heavily influenced by one or more of Malaysia's cultural components. Much of Malaysian music and dance has evolved from more basic needs into the mesmerizing, complex art forms they are today. Tourism Malaysia will be presenting a unique and authentic showcase of the very best of Malaysian music and dance.
Colombia Tourist Office - PRO Export presents
THE TRADITIONS OF COLOMBIA
The folk music and dance of Colombia reveals African or Native American influences, typically the music involves complicated percussion rhythms. Colombia Tourist Office present a fantastic session which will include different types of rhythms including:
BAMBUCO: an Andean style of dance music, perceived as the national music in the early 20th century.
SANJUANERO: which displays the courtship created between men and women during the dance. Its choreography is marked by very smooth and synchronised movements.
SALSA: the fascinating rhythm with very fast movements that can also be romantic and slow famously danced with perfection at the Colombian city of Cali.
MERENGUE: another ‘fast’ type of dancing which is a combination of two dances, the African and the French Minuet, from the late 1700's - early 1800's, with a special upbeat (provided by the drums), added by the slaves.
And finally the Caribbean rhythm CUMBIA which is of African origin which evolved from the end of the 17th century on the north coast of Colombia. Cumbia combines Hispanic melodic structures with African rhythms and native American harmonic components. It relies on the influence of three cultures, the African, the Spanish and the Native. This mixture of three such different races results in a rhythm of unique characteristics.
SIZZLING SAMBA with
London School of Samba
The London School of Samba, Samba Champions of Notting Hill Carnival 2006, bring a spectacular display of authentic Brazilian carnival to Destinations. Their bateria of carnival drummers is accompanied by fast-moving dancers in flamboyant costumes. Get up and dance or sit back and enjoy an extravaganza of exuberance and colour.
The London School of Samba was the first samba school formed in the UK and today is a thriving community organisation with more than 200 members. The LSS was formed by a group of South American and European musicians in 1984 and celebrates 23 years of samba in London in 2007. It has gained a reputation as one of Europe’s leading samba groups, performing more than 40 times each year. Recently the group has performed in Germany, Spain, France and Algeria; at the Royal Albert Hall, Hackney Empire and Sadler’s Wells, and TV appearances including the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
The LSS is a charity and voluntary organisation that prides itself on teaching music, dance and costume-making skills to the highest possible standard, while maintaining its inclusive atmosphere. All proceeds from performances go towards LSS activities. These include open-access public workshops; annual participation in Notting Hill Carnival and outreach projects with local schools and other charities.
THE RHYTHMS OF AFRICA with
Adanta Dance Group
ADANTA (African Dance and Theatre Training Ltd) was founded in 1997 by dancer drummer and choreographer, Sunny Nwachukwu. ADANTA tours with a company of 6 dancers, 5 drummers and 1 acrobat/body contortionist. This combination of people offers a variety of workshops, residencies theatre productions and public performances.
ADANTA exists to explore and express an idea through dance, which reflects its African roots, society and way of life. Its philosophy is to create innovative work by using sources rooted in traditional African culture and to communicate the diversity of dance vocabulary within the continent to its wide range of audiences. Adanta have over 30 different traditional African dances drawn from cultures across sub-Saharan Africa. Our most popular dances are: Atilogwu dance from the igbo tribe of Eastern Nigeria. This is a very exciting dance, usually performed by young men and women during events celebrating the rite of passage. Other dances include the Zulu Warrior dance, Nkwa Umu Agbogho (maiden dance), Yamama, from Guinea, Kpanlogo, a celebratory dance from Ghana.
THE ART OF CAPOEIRA with
Cordão de Ouro
CDO Capoeira is a cultural organization dedicated to the teaching and promotion of Capoeira. Capoeira is an art form that involves movement, music, acrobatics, and elements of practical philosophy. One experiences the essence of capoeira by ‘playing’ a physical game called jogo de capoeira (game of capoeira) or simply jogo. During this ritualised combat, two capoeiristas (players of capoeira) exchange movements of attack and defense in a constant flow while observing rituals and proper manners of the art. Capoeira can be a means for great personal transformation and expression, as well as a unifying force that builds community.
THE DANCES OF EASTERN EUROPE…
...from the Ukraine to Russia with The Volga Russian Dancers Take a tour through eastern Europe and enjoy the variety of traditional music and dance from the region. From lyrical Russian dance and the foot-stomping Ukrainian ‘Gopak’, presented by the Volga Russian Dancers.
Performances on: Sunday 3rd Feb @ 10.30am
FROM CHARLSTON TO JIVE with
THE LINDY HOPPERS
The Jiving Lindy Hoppers unwittingly became part of the still largely unmapped history of Black British jazz dance twenty years ago. The company’s initial aim of re-staging the original form of “Jive” – more correctly known as “The Lindy Hop” – in the UK, by setting up a professional jazz dance company has an uncanny parallel with the first known black British dance company that was set up prior to the First World War.
The noted African-American producer and choreographer Louis Douglas came to the UK to train dancers, presumably of Caribbean and direct African descent, to perform early ragtime jazz dance forms. They left the UK to tour Imperial Russia, but had to return almost immediately because of the outbreak of war. Douglas returned to the UK afterwards and re-instated the company who performed extensively in music halls and in European tours, and included the Lindy Hop in its repertoire.
Back in the early 1980’s, not having any other agenda, the JLH just did what seemed “obvious” and recruited a mixture of dancers from different backgrounds, Caribbean, African, and European etc. Their modest intentions however in replicating earlier initiatives resulted in them learning a whole series of American “authentic jazz dance” forms that would take them round the world. Alongside innumerable UK gigs, small, medium and large, they have toured Japan four times, the USA twice from coast-to-coast and been on three separate tours with the Boston Pops Orchestra, let alone winning numerous dance awards and appearing on TV and in feature films many times.
Rather than seeing the Lindy Hop now as an end in itself, or the JLH as just part of a “swing scene,” the company views this unique dance as a bridge to many other dance forms, and thus a means to contribute to the general understanding of dance whilst reaching out to an extraordinary variety of communities and ethnicities to bring them all together in one groove. This is not about any anonymous “fusions” but a recognition that here is a dance form that draws on aspects of many cultures from around the world, which promotes wider understanding and thus mutual respect.
The JLH’s initial unintended imitation of the UK’s first black British dance company, was and remains the measure of its continuing profundity and impact, and it continues to seeks partnerships and opportunities to take this work further. By modestly aiming in the early 1980s to re-stage the original form of “jive,” otherwise known as the “Lindy Hop,” the JLH unintentionally launched a prolonged and spectacular career as an international touring dance company. The “Lindy Hop” turned out to be the gateway into a vast realm of dance forms. In turn learning them led to the company touring Japan four times, two coast-to-coast tours of the USA and three separate tours with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Any gig, however small or however large, is welcomed by this company which aims to get the whole world swinging in one groove. Their accomplishment suggests both the extraordinary character of this dance form, when taken seriously, and the degree to which the JLH have become its masterful exponents.
Cox & Kings present THE FLAVOUR OF INDIA with
INDEPENDANCE
2008 marks the 250th anniversary of the foundation of Cox & Kings, the longest established Travel Company in the world.
The company’s proud history stretches back to May 1758 when Richard Cox was appointed as regimental agent to the Foot Guards, later the Grenadier Guards. Such was Cox’s integrity and care for the regiments he represented that the company rapidly grew to be the foremost military agents for the British armed forces, in due course branching out into banking, shipping and travel.
Today, as Cox & Kings celebrate their first 250 years, Cox & Kings travellers benefit from the same standards of service and attention to detail that established the company’s reputation all those years ago. Today, Cox & Kings organises group tours and tailor-made private travel to the Indian Subcontinent, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, the Far East and Europe. In addition, they run a programme of tailor-made Family Explorer holidays and a selection of special interest tours, including expert-led Art Treasures holidays.
Cox and Kings are presenting a Bollywood extravaganza performance with Independance who will provide rich and vibrant costumes. The dances will consist of energetic and upbeat Bollywood numbers taking you on a true journey of the Indian culture.
Prom Peru presents
AFRO PERUVIAN MUSIC & DANCE
with Manos Negras To give a taster of Peruvian flair, PromPeru are showcasing Afro- Peruvian music and dance with the Manos Negras group. Be immersed in the famous festejo and lando rhythms and the catchy rhythm of the cajon peruano Peruvian percussion. Then join PromPeru on stand LA11 to sample traditional drinks and Peruvian cuisine.
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