Tanz im August festival opens with satirical revue ‘Trapicana’

The Berlin festival Tanz im August has opened with the satirical dance revue ‘Trapicana’. The production is an international co-production involving choreographers Joana Tischkau, Jeremy Nedd, and Sophie Yukiko, featuring the Havana-based Malpaso Dance Company.

The performance deconstructs the glamorous image of the famous Tropicana club in Havana. Through satire, the piece critiques the exoticized stereotypes and the ‘white gaze’ often directed at Cuban culture, portraying the traditional revue as a ‘trap’ for tourists. The choreography blends elements of classical training with pop culture and club atmospheres, using exaggerated movements and subversive music to challenge notions of authenticity and tradition.