Tripping the Lit Fantastic In GALAs Latido Negro – Washington DC

“The line “Dont try this at home” does not appear in “Latido Negro: Perus African Beat,” an informative but awkwardly written primer on Afro-Peruvian music and dance. But you could almost see GALA Hispanic Theatre asking scriptwriter Fernando Barreto to add the warning. After all, among the choreographic traditions covered in this production is a too-hot-to-handle form called the alcatraz.

In the alcatraz, dancers sporting tissues affixed to their lower backs vie against partners who try to ignite the material with candles. As the cast makes clear, its a highly erotic dance, playful as a game of tag but characterized by sinuous, hip-swinging movements that are suggestive enough to merit an R rating. The flames add a tantalizing hint of danger.”

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