Author: Matt Gainsford

This show was going to be very special indeed: created during lockdown, it was supposed to reflect life going on under a pandemic that struck the world. Think of a beautiful plant growing out of the rubble, as the Tango Argentino survives everything, even a worldwide disaster. So, love, passion, drama and human habit prevails in the supercharged & sexy Argentine tango, mixed with modern dance elements, that make R.E.A. Danza’s performances highly original and forever appealing. Through dance, they want to reflect on everyday life and the mundane world we live in. Yet, their performances are full of humour, raw talent, an overriding message…and everything in between.

Diego & Jupa Arias are the driving forces behind the ensemble, and their care for detail shines right through to stage & lighting design – all of which make a R.E.A. Danza show a complete visual and sensual experience, even when props are minimal. 30 years together is indeed a huge testimony of survival in a creative world that is fast and ever evolving. Seemingly never running out of ideas, we’ve enjoyed so many of their shows, and all of them are so very different.

They’ve toured Europe extensively, including Belgium, France, Austria, Spain’s Costa del Sol of course, Italy. To find out where they might be performing next, check out their website www.readanza.com

REA Danza – Málaga

REA Danza celebrates its 30 years of life this year. Three decades of live performances have seen this dance company combine uninterrupted work with artistic creativity. Originating in 1991 in Argentina, REA Danza has taken quite the journey from its roots, now residing at its headquarters in Málaga, Spain. At Málaga’s Teatro Cervantes,  TA-DAH.TV attended their celebratory show ‘Tango Infame’. REA Danza, with their many Argentine Tango interpretations, are on a mission: to “infiltrate the world with dance”, and they’re well on their way in achieving that, treading the boards now for 30th year – what an achievement!

About REA Danza (REA Dance Company)

R.E.A (Reminiscencias, Experimento, Artístico) have been dancing and choreographing for 30 years! Their experience in the production of shows, management and organisation of cultural events, training of dancers is immense, as they continue their work to spread the joy of dance around the world. For all involved, dance is a fundamental aspect of development within society and personal development for each individual – this is at the core of every REA Danza project or show.

The company started in its hometown of Mar del Plata in Argentina before making the big cultural switch and geographical move to its current home in Málaga (Spain), some 10,000km away. The change in location has helped the company continue its work within the industry, whilst also contributing to contemporary dance in Andalusia, since they first hit the shores over a decade ago in 2001.

The works and productions of the company combine a blend of some truly spicy flavours in the form of Argentinian folklore, contemporary dance, vertical dance and with some added acrobatics for a guaranteed showstopper. This awesome combination makes up the foundations of which the company creates their productions.

Argentine Tango

A trademark of REA Danza, the sexy Argentine Tango is a dancing style you would catch yourself watching and thinking “I would love to give that a go”. The elements making up this dance is both romantic and sultry, really enticing the audience. The dancing consists of a variety of styles which have developed overtime from various regions and throughout the eras, whilst also taking onboard the audience’s response to street performances. The current style of the Argentine Tango developed mostly in areas of Argentina and Uruguay, with some additional flair from parts of Europe and North America.

Much of this dancing style is based on improvisation, following the music and dancing appropriately to the emotion and speed of the beat. Argentine Tango sees partners embrace, transitioning from being at arm’s length to full body contact with chest-to-chest connection. You certainly need the chemistry and closeness with your partner to make this look truly authentic. 

The Arias Brothers and dance partners

The Arias brothers – Diego and Jupa, along with their acrobatic dance partners (Mercedes and Esther), have this chemistry down to a tee. As the manager of REA Danza, Diego Arias , along with his brother Jupa, have proven their talent for dance, choreography, show direction and production to large audiences over the years. They create some magnificent visual spectacles, working with lighting and stage designers, which underlines their adventurous choreography and talent within REA Danza, they continue their work to spread the message of the importance of dance within society – the perfect subject for tension and entertainment on stage.

Within the last decade they have contributed greatly to Málaga’s dance scene, performing across this extraordinary city at a variety of venues and events, including the Teatro Cervantes, which plays host to a wide range of spectacular shows throughout the year, along with show-stopping performances of traditional Andalusian flamenco dancing! 

REA Danza have also toured in the past, taking their fabulous shows to France, Italy and Portugal. During times of the pandemic, this is clearly not possible as often as they’d like, however they very much look forward to taking their special flavour of the Argentine Tango across borders again.

Málaga – a dancer’s dream

If you’re after a Mediterranean city which will satisfy your craving for culture, night life and, plenty of delicious food, look no further than Málaga. The southern Spanish city is rich in cultural history and thanks to its location, Málaga is the ideal place to soak in some Andalusian sunshine. No wonder this is a holiday hot spot, quite apart from the picturesque castle, towering over the town! The city is a favourite with performing arts lovers too, since they host a whole range of amazing top-notch performances, from plays and dances throughout the year. It really was the perfect choice for REA Danza to set up base there. With a variety of theatres such as the Cervantes Theatre, Alameda Theatre and Sala Gades, do not miss catching a breath-taking performance from dancers and artists showcasing not just the best of Spanish performing arts, but also international talent.  

Málaga – a traveller’s dream destination

 

Málaga‘s history dates back to 770 BC, according to most scholars, making it  2800 years old, and therefore one of the oldest cities in Europe and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world – wow! Situated on the Eastern Costa del Sol, it is the capital of Málaga region, and the second biggest city in Andalusia after Seville.

Famous sons of this impressive city are the painter Pablo Picasso, the Jewish philosopher and Hebrew poet Solomon Ibn Gabirol and the actor Antonio Banderas. Hence, creativity runs through the veins of this enchanting city, and it shows in every corner of the cobblestoned roads and walkways. The Picasso Museum is situated in the Old Town, with his birthplace not far away. The Carmen Thyssen Museum is another hot spot of art, and so it comes to now surprise that the Centre Pompidou opened there as well, choosing Malaga for their first Spanish outlet.

Apart from sightseeing destinations like the fabulous Old Town, the Gibralfaro Castle and the Alcazaba Fortress overlooking the city, you’ll find a gazillion restaurants and tapas bars here, because gastronomy is equally important to a proper Málagenian experience, right after the arts.  

With an average of 320 days of sunshine a year, Málaga is the perfect place for a city break or longer holiday, as there is so much more to explore than meets the eye!

She is utterly lovely to chat to! Watch Claudia Peifer’s exclusive interview with Cynthia Erivo, when she caught up with her during London Fashion Week ay Bao Ta’s catwalk show. That was just before she went State-side to perform on Broadway in New York in Oprah Winfrey’s production of the smash hit ‘The Colour Purple’. Starring alongside Jennifer Hudson is no easy task, yet Cynthia won over America (literally) with her powerful voice and her gorgeous personality in no time.

By now, she is a Daytime Emmy winner, bagged a Grammy & Tony Award on the way, and has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, two Academy Awards, a Prime Time Emmy Awards and a Screen Actor’s Guild Award. Yet, she is still so humble, with both feet on the ground. Her recent endeavours include playing her absolute idol Aretha Franklin in ‘Genius: Aretha’ for the National Geographic channel. Her next project is a starring role in the big-screen adaption of the Tony-winning musical ‘Wicked’ for Universal, defying gravity alongside Ariana Grande. She is set to play Glinda and Elphaba in this massively popular Broadway musical. So, superstardom beckons and nearing EGOT-status, Cynthia, as a multi-hyphenate, is the one to watch! All that’s missing is an Oscar, so fingers crossed for the girl from Stockwell, London

Who doesn’t love a cheeky weekend in ‘gay Paris’? After your Bateau Mouche tour on the Seine, go for lunch in the 4th arrondissement, where you find Les Halles and the Centre Pompidou.

Little restaurants and eateries line the pavements here and this world famous art space just sets the scene perfectly. The original building was ground-breaking at the time, and still hasn’t lost its charm after all these years! A bientôt…

Centre Pompidou in Paris

Centre Pompidou in Paris is famed for its vast collection of modern art collections from the 20th and 21st centuries. Within the centre you will find the Bibliothèque publique d’information (a huge public library), the Musée National d’Art Moderne, and IRCAM, a centre for music and acoustic research. The building itself is not recognised as your typical Parisian architecture, in fact the building was quite ground-breaking for its time and is a sight to behold, with its escalators to the exterior and large coloured tubing and the much-loved addition of a panoramic view of Paris from the 6th floor.

Designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, the architecture is just the start of what Centre Pompidou has to offer. Home to the National Museum of Modern Art, works from iconic artists are displayed here. Including from the likes of Matisse, Picasso, Andy Warhol, Niki de Saint Phalle. Alongside their permanent collections, the exhibitions they host throughout the calendar year are internationally renowned, adored by visitors from around the world.

Currently, in celebration of the reopening of Centre Pompidou and the wide range of exhibitions now open to the public, visitors can marvel at the current exhibitions and permanent collections with the unlimited ticket ‘Destination Pompidou’ allowing you unlimited access to the museum until September 30th 2021.

The history of the Centre Pompidou

Named after Georges Pompidou, President of France from 1969 to 1974, who commissioned the building, with its official opening hosted by President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in January 1977. Based in the Beauborg area near Les Halles (excellent shopping) and rue Montorgueil in the 4th arrondissement of Pairs. This centre of art and culture soon became popular with Parisians and tourists alike, welcoming 180 million visitors since its doors were opened.

Through a process of planning throughout the 60s, the idea of the centre was born due to a demand for both a free public library and a wish to renew the idea of Paris as a leading city of art and culture. During the planning process it was also decided the IRCAM would live within the structure. The build was then left to architects, Rogers and Piano, to take on the project.

The design certainly caused some reaction, a bit like marmite, you either love it or hate it! Many people were in awe of the design which the architects decided to design the building to resemble that of a beating heart.

Once opened, the new institution for art and culture in Paris found huge success, quickly becoming one of the five most-visited monuments in Paris. Which, in a vast city full of historic attractions, is certainly an achievement.

Exhibitions at Centre Pompidou

With a wide range of exhibitions hosted throughout the calendar year, here is a snippet of what is currently on offer and what is to come and what we would love to see here at TA-DAH!

Current:

Tribute to Georges Rouault Holy Anger – 9 July – 3 October 2021
Petits papiers du 20e siècle Destribats donation – 19 May 2021 – 31 Jan 2022

Coming soon:

Georgia O’Keeffe – 8 September – 6 December 2021
L’image et son double – 15 September – 13 December 2021
Saul Steinberg, entre les lignes – 29 September 2021 – 28 February 2022

Centre Pompidou centres in Europe

Centre Pompidou, Metz

A sister institution of Centre Pompidou, Metz has its own programme, whilst utilising the notoriety and network of its larger sister to draw in popular collections and visitors.

Based in Metz, capital of Lorraine, region in France, the space has been created to offer visitors a unique experience, allowing them the chance to discover artistic creation in numerous forms, with additional events also taking place year-round. Proven popular since its build, Centre Pompidou Metz has become one of the most visited cultural venues in France outside Paris.

Centre Pompidou, Málaga

In the El Cubo building, in front of the beautiful Bay of Málaga, Centre Pompidou Málaga resides as a modern landmark. One of the first centres the Parisian institution has opened outside of France, offering the public a chance to experience the collection of Centre Pompidou.

With Málaga as the birthplace of Picasso and a hugely popular European destination, there is no better place across Spanish territory for this world-famous institution to welcome visitors and tourists alike.

Satellite Museum Plans

New Jersey – With a prospected opening date for early 2024, a new museum aligned with Centre Pompidou, based in New Jersey will open for visitors as a major attraction. The plan outlines to serve the area with a “multidisciplinary art laboratory” for cultural and educational programmes, using the wide range of works as part of the Pompidou’s modern and contemporary art collection.

Asia – A collaboration is already in place already with the West Bund Museum in Shanghai, so curators at Centre Pompidou hope to branch out further across Asia. With plans to open a satellite space within South Korea, plans came to a halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hopefully, things will start to progress again when we all return to business as usual.

South America – There have been rumours circulating that a potential pop-up satellite museum could soon be appearing in Brazil, but no details of when or if this project will come off the ground have been confirmed.