Paige Hernandez, as young Yeila, bounces across the stage, inviting the audience to join her on her journey to build self-confidence. To fulfil her dream of being part of the Cherry Blossom Festival, she has to pass an audition to show her spirit and drive. Yeila is mega-talented but admits to freezing up with stage fright. To improve her confidence, Yeila learns that she must dig deep into her own identity, appreciate who she is by exploring her culture, and, best of all, bring the audience with her every step of the way.
Hernandez has been performing Havana Hop, a show she also wrote and choreographed, for nearly 20 years, and, like a delicious stew, it becomes more flavorful and personally enlightening with each iteration. Now in a new production at Imagination Stage, with direction by … you guessed it, Hernandez, young audience members and their families can enjoy the hit show about a young woman who seeks advice from her elders all over again.
One of the features that makes Havana Hop so endearing is that Hernandez fully engages the audience in her character’s journey. Once we’re all warmed up with permission to wave our arms to her delightful rhythms, we become her “friends” and offer advice, suggestions, strut our own free style, and join her on the journey. The story begins with Yeila auditioning for the Cherry Blossom Festival. There she stood with her audition number hanging around her neck, and we all felt like we were there having to prove ourselves to be selected. When Yeila admits to feeling vulnerable due to stage fright, we all know the feelings that she portrays with her stark, stuck stance frozen in fear.
Thankfully, the organizers recognize her potential and she passes the auditions (along with the rest of us). The next step to building confidence is to discover her special talents and unique gifts. Getting advice from her “audience friends,” she learns that she needs to dig into her cultural heritage, and her roots, to learn about her own identity. Hernandez then switches characters and plays Yeila’s mother, a character she portrays with a stately posture and clear vocals, who sets up a trip to Cuba to visit the family Abuela (grandmother), who is slowly losing her memory to Alzheimer’s. These initiatives for cultural awareness and family care result in a flight to Cuba.
Through Hernandez’s guidance and imagination, we are all transported to Cuba, our arms stretched in flight, the image of the island in front of us. Aided by incredible projections by Ruthmarie Tomlin, we’re all soon immersed in the street sounds and images of Cuba. Hernandez infuses the experience with coordinated movements to represent various words and feelings, with a smattering of Spanish expressions along the way.
Hernandez stays in a flow of arms reaching and thrusting, feet stomping and thumping to fabulous hip-hop grooves, courtesy of the pulsating beats of composers Nick tha 1da and Kris Funn. She depicts her grandmother stuck in a corner, bent over in dejection, but eventually moving and lifting her body with joy and radiance as the music seeps into her consciousness. Needless to say, her Abuela’s ancestral energy makes all the difference in the world. When she returns to the States, Yeila shares words of encouragement that she herself has learned along the way about her identity, roots, how to grow and blossom, and remembering to breathe to get through tough moments.
Havana Hop is an inspiring tale for children and adults alike. As an example, I actually found myself heeding Hernandez’s advice when I sat down to write this review, frozen in trepidation, looking at a blank page, wondering how I could do the show justice. Thinking back to the show reminded me to breathe through the moments, shake my fingers and limbs, roll my head, take some deep breaths, and get started. The sights, images, music, and lessons of Havana Hop will stay with me for a long time.
For the first time, the talented Paige Hernandez is sharing her adorable creation with other performers who will play Yeila later in the run at Imagination Stage so the show can go on while Hernandez directs another original piece expected to tour several cities. Here’s hoping she has the opportunity to bring her next production home to DC. In the meantime, Havana Hop is as good as it gets for a full family, culturally immersive experience.
Running Time: 50 minutes with no intermission.
Havana Hop plays Saturdays through March 7, 2026, at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD. Tickets (starting at $15) can be purchased online, in person at Imagination Stage’s box office, or by calling the box office at 301-280-1660.
Best for ages 5+.
Havana Hop
Written, directed, choreographed, and performed by Paige Hernandez
Selected dates performers: Pepin and Riya Massey
CREATIVE TEAM
Original direction by Danielle Drakes
Original music by Nick tha 1da Hernandez and Kris Funn
Projections by Ruthmarie Tomlin and Paige Hernandez
Commissioned by Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning, Virginia
Developed by Playhouse Square, Ohio
