The Urban Rhapsodies

Sara Brodie has long been passionate about bringing opera to the people and CubaDupa provides a great opportunity for her to do this.  She says: "I never grew up with opera and have never considered myself an opera connoisseur, even now. However, for anyone who has experienced an aria up close you cannot help but admire the sheer power of the singing and the beauty of the music. I have been fortunate to work with and train singers who are determined to bring the art form into the present and fill it with drama. These are performers who are not dull, who want push the boundaries and who dare. What better way to do this than in an event on the streets, where we can mix drama, fine music and literally dangle the singers from great heights for all to see."

The Urban Rhapsodies promises to be filled with a selection of operatic hits performed on the rooftops and hidden spaces in and around Cuba Street. It will also celebrate the history of area, reminiscences of past lives and events along the way. Audiences can choose to either; stop and listen to a short sample, or for those who dare to follow the singers, go into, up and through some of the private spaces behind the facades, for an intimate musical escapade..

CubaDupa needs your help to create The Urban Rhapsodies. Your money will be spent on the singers, musicians and costuming. The more funding we receive the more singers we can involve and the more experiences can be on offer. For example, at present Sara is programming the Habanera from Carmen from the balcony of the old Working Men's Club on Cuba St, but she would love to add the card trio from the same opera for those brave enough to venture through the doors of the building escorted by Carmen into a private room to have their future read.

Singers are literately leaping at the chance to be involved in this project, but we want to pay them. We would love your financial support... and your operatic requests!

Help us do the CubaDupa!

CubaDupa will be a world-class street festival, which builds on the spirit and talent of Wellington and draws on the best New Zealand street festivals.  It will be held annually in Wellington, premiering Saturday 28 - Sunday 29 March 2015.

The new Cuba Street festival, CubaDupa, is a celebration of the creative heart of Wellington.  The Cuba street precinct will become a vibrant pedestrianised playground of music, dance, arts and street food.

In creating a totally unique and family friendly urban environment and entertainment programme Drew James, the Artistic Director of CubaDupa has identified seven diverse projects that will deliver an extraordinary experience for audiences and participants.

These are Urban Rhapsodies aerial opera, Mass Cuba Street Orchestra, The Beop band of the future, Carnival Zone with Wellington Batucada, Cuba Surveyors historical street theatre, Java Dance's Sneak Peek in shop windows, and CubaKaleidoscope by the Tarrant Dance Studio. All of these projects will be commissioned with the help of Boosted donations and performed free for audiences on the streets.