International Programs - Performance and Culture in Cuba

Performance and Culture in Cuba

The Program The Performance and Culture in Cuba Program is an extension of an OSU course (Theatre 694: Group Studies: Performance and Culture in Cuba), which was launched in fall 2002, team-taught by Dan Gray (Theatre) and Jill Lane (Comparative Studies). Lesley Ferris (Theatre) taught the course in 2003 with Dan Gray. The course provides an historical overview of the island. A variety of guest lectures offer insights into current artistic work and the ways in which the arts are central to life in Cuba.

Immediately following the Autumn Quarter exams, students travel to Cuba. While in Havana students attend morning classes taught by Cuban professors and artists at the Ludwig Foundation. In the afternoons students tour the National Museum of Fine Arts, visit classes and rehearsals by theater and dance ensembles, and explore Old Havana. In the evening students attend at least three performances (theater, music, dance).

The Host Institution

The host institution in Havana is the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba. The Ludwig Foundation is a non-governmental agency that was founded in 1995 by Peter Ludwig and Irene Manheim to promote Cuban art and artists within the country and abroad. They are uniquely situated to allow interaction between foreign, cultural visitors and major, official state arts organizations such as the Instituto Superior de Artes (ISA) and La Casa de Americas. The Ludwig Foundation’s focus on contemporary, conceptual work puts them at the cutting edge of Cuban culture in many areas. To date, they have organized one hundred sixteen exhibitions (91 in Cuba and 25 abroad), numerous theatrical performances and over one hundred conferences both in Cuba and abroad. A two-day field trip will allow students to visit the legendary Teatro Escambray and explore Trinidad, one of the oldest Cuban cities, located on the Caribbean coast

Students earn 3 letter-graded credit hours of Theatre 694 Group Studies: Performance and Culture in Cuba during fall quarter and 5 letter-graded credit hours of Theatre 698.02: Study Tour to Cuba after successfully completing the program.

The fall 2004 program was unfortunately cancelled due to the change in governmental regulations for study tours to Cuba. The program is currently on hold until which time it can be offered to students again.

2003 Performance and Culture in Cuba Details (PDF)

Office of International Education Website