Less than a month after the death of the teacher Zenaida Armenteros, the Cuban dance It is mourning again.
This Monday died in Havana the dancer, choreographer and professor Alfredo O’Farrill Pacheco, artistically known as Dad Shangó and National Dance Award in 2024.
In informing about his death, the portal Cubaescena He called it “Teacher teacher” and highlighted his “deep mark on the formation of generations of folk dancers in Cuba.”
The official information does not require their age or the cause of the death, although some sources place their birth on October 25, 1947, so he would be 78 years old when he died.
“O’Farrill dedicated his life to dance art, becoming a reference of Cuban folk dance, an example of rigor, talent and love for the traditions of our identity. His delivery in the stage and their teaching in the classroom formed several generations of dancers and teachers,” he said in his Farewell note The National Folkloric Ensemble.
According to Cubaescenathe artist began in dance after having participated in the literacy campaign. First, the new dance theater, which sponsored the National Folkloric team of Cuba, was part of the fans group, and then entered that company.
In the folkloric he became the first dancer and remained over three decades. Formed by teachers such as Lázaro Ross, Nieves Fresneda, Ramiro Guerra and Rogelio Martínez Furé, shared a scene with other relevant figures such as Johannes García, Santiago Alfonso, Juan García, Zenaida Armenteros and Silvina Fabars.
After leaving the scenarios he remained in the company as a teacher, a work that also systematically carried out in different art schools. At the University of the Arts (ISA) he was the founder of the Faculty of Arts and for 10 years he served as head of the folk dance profile.
In the ISA he also graduated and obtained the master’s degree in his specialty.
Member of the International Dance Council and the Council of Advisors of the President of the National Council of the Performing Arts of Cuba, O’Farrill Pacheco received numerous awards inside and outside Cuba. Among these are the distinction for national culture, the Pedagogical Merit Diploma, distinctions in countries such as Italy and Zaire, and the aforementioned National Dance Prize.
He had recently been honored in a documentary. The work, entitled Alfredo O’Farril, Dad Shangótake a tour of its broad and applauded career, under the direction of Pedro Maytín Tejeras and with the sponsorship of the Agency of Artistic Representations Caricatos.
