This January, Philadelphia Theatre Company invites families to an inclusive experience for young audiences with 'Havana Hop'. The one-woman performance written, choreographed and performed by multidisciplinary artist Paige Hernandez blends hip-hop, salsa, storytelling, and movement into an exciting journey that encourages kids to dance and have fun.
In 'Havana Hop', young Yeila dreams of being a superstar. She travels from Washington, D.C. to Cuba to learn more about her heritage while gaining confidence and discovering her own unique rhythm. The 60-minute show also includes original music by Nick “Nick tha 1da” Hernandez and Kris Funn, and is directed by Danielle Drakes.
Hernandez spoke with Metro about how the show has evolved since she first started performing it in 2008 and why interactive storytelling can spark something special in young audiences.
For so long I struggled with having multiple identities and I always wondered if I was enough. The more I examined what made me unique, the more I realized that sometimes our special superpowers lie in our intersections. 'Havana Hop' is a great example of what it means to identify as multiple things and to let every facet shape you.
Yeila’s journey is inspired by my own true story, so audiences really get to see a very honest and vulnerable side of me.
The interactivity in the show is really what makes it special. I lean into my own style of learning, which is kinesthetic. I learn best when I move my body and use my muscle memory. I like to think that audiences walk away remembering so much more from this show because of what they're asked to do with their bodies throughout the story. There are so many stories of people seeing this show once and then seeing me years later and demonstrating the dance moves — it's wild and so cool!
Oh goodness! Over the years, the structure of the show has remained consistent, although it has evolved quite a bit. This constant adaptation makes sense, as the audience plays such a vital role in the performance. I’ve refined the interactions and the bilingual vocabulary to be more focused. The music has been modernized to suit current tastes. But, most significantly, my 2024 trip to Cuba allowed me to incorporate far more specific Cuban cultural references. 'Havana Hop' is the strongest and most intentional that it’s ever been.
I always like to share that the making of this show was truly a family affair. My actual little brother, Nick tha 1da, did all of the original hip hop music in the show. My husband, Kris Funn, did the original salsa compositions. You can also hear my father, Angelo Hernandez, playing guitar riffs on certain songs.
The show's music is a testament to three men who have greatly influenced me, which is a fascinating contrast to the three women who are so important to me and are featured in the performance itself. Working with family has always been so fun and rewarding for me.
‘PAIGE IN FULL’ is a coming-of-age story that delves into identity with humor, sincerity, honesty, and heartbreak. I hope audiences feel inspired to continue their personal journeys of self-discovery and to document and share their stories.
I think it’s all about finding that thing that genuinely excites you and then exploring all facets of it. Yeila does a great job of exploring this in the show with dance, but it can even be applied to something as simple as pizza. You love pizza, but have you tried it with different cheeses? A different crust? Have you tried Chicago style? A NY slice? Everyone needs a place to start and then have fun learning, exploring and experimenting.
‘Havana Hop’ runs for one weekend only, Jan. 17 and 18. In addition to the public performances of Havana Hop, PTC will present five school-day performances of ‘PAIGE IN FULL’, Hernandez’s hip-hop multimedia solo show designed specifically for high school students. Tickets and information are available at philadelphiatheatrecompany.org
