Wolves at Dawn: The Premiere of Julio César Iglesias

On July 5, Julio César Iglesias, resident choreographer of Danza Contemporánea de Cuba, premiered his latest work, Wolves at Dawn, in Germany. The piece featured dancers who have been part of the Cuban company at various stages. The artist intends to stage the production in Cuba soon.

Critic Klaus Dilger reviewed the performance for Tanzwebnrw, noting that the latest creation by Cuban choreographer Julio César Iglesias Ungo had its world premiere at the Alte Schauspielhaus Wuppertal as part of the Pina Bausch Zentrum – in Construction project. The piece, developed in collaboration with nineteen graduates of the ArtEZ dance program (Netherlands), presents a dystopian universe filled with symbolic imagery, theatricality, and irony. From the beginning, it delivers an intense experience evoking the myth of the expulsion from paradise, supported by vibrant physical language and striking visual elements.

Dilger adds that the work stands out for its emphasis on difference, avoiding choreographic uniformity and instead highlighting the individual expressiveness of each performer. One of the most powerful moments, according to the critic, is the scene of the red apples, where ritual, temptation, and collective identity intertwine in a symbol-laden staging. The presence of dancers from Danza Contemporánea de Cuba, including MACA (Alexis Fernández Ferrera), Javier Alejandro Aguilera Plana, and Maikel Pons Barzagas, adds a distinctive cultural dimension, amplified by the use of live vocals and gestures that transcend language.

With images of profound poetic force, stark contrasts between chaos and ceremony, and a constant drive for experimentation, Wolves at Dawn emerges as a significant contribution within both pedagogical and artistic contexts, concludes the reviewer.

Translated by Sergio Paneque / CubaSí Translation Staff