René de Cárdenas

René de Cárdenas is a Cuban dancer and choreographer born in Havana. He is the creator of Sonlar, a musical performed worldwide, describing a day in the life of a Havana barrio, a kind of communal house where several families live together.

To offer and spread a unique dancing experience by teaching the techniques and style of the Cuban School of Ballet to emerging companies or well established dance institutions and, at the same time enrich my professional career through the exchange with other schools of classical dance. As Maitre du Ballet I have designed programs of study to improve the individual work of dancers and the performance of companies on stage. Widening my scope as a producer and choreographer is one of my main goals.

The Director and choreographer Rene de Cardenas holds a great experience, member of the National Ballet of Cuba for about 30 years as dancer or Maître beside Alicia Alonso. Throughout his career, he has been invited as dancer, Maitre, Ballet Master or choreographer in various Dance Companies worldwide. Maitre of Classic Technique, Duo technique, Repertoire, Rene has worked as consultant in different European and Latin American Academies, as well as delivered different lectures and courses, participated in numerous Stages and Workshops. His creations make part of several Companie's repertoire worldwide, i.e. Ballet of Monterrey, Ballet of Cali, Contemporary Dance of Cuba. Creator of the successful Cuban spectacle Sonlar, dance and percussion show, that has travelled around the world and keeps on moving into success, invited to create new plays in other Dance Companies.

But his greatest achievement is Sonlar, a dance and percussion show, telling the story of the life in a Havana’s solar. This musical is performed by his own dance company: la Compania René de Cárdenas. The premiere took place in the National Theater of La Havana in December 2004. Then the show notoriety kept on growing, so that an international tour was set. Foreign critics have compared it with big Broadway productions such as Stomp or A Chorus Line.

René de Cárdenas has also started a career of writer by publishing in 2005 Hatana de Los Remedios, a story compilation.

• Best junior couple of the Ballet de Varna International Contest, Bulgaria (1978).

Dance shows

• Havana, you are my love (2007)
• Desencuentro (2007)
• Sonlar, dance and percussion show (2004)
• My Soul… Alone (2004)
• Beats of the city (2003)
• Remembranzas (2003)
• Instinct (2003)
• E pur si muore (2001)
• Labil (2000)

• Technical book of duo (soon published)
• From the coldness of the shadow (soon published)
• Hatana’s stories (soon published)
• Hatana de los Remedios (2005)