Page 283 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

ENTER T AINMENT IN CUBA  281

Most discos are based in the
tourist resorts, concentrated in
Varadero. These are large,
modern discos featuring loud
music (usually a mix of salsa
and other Latin sounds with
world-beat), neon lighting and
simple decor. The entry fee
is in convertible pesos and is
usually quite expensive. Several
such discos are for hotel patrons
only. For these reasons, the
majority of the customers are
foreigners. However, there is
usually a sprinkling of young
Cuban couples, as well as
A traditional son band performing in a Trinidad street wayward singles waiting
outside in the hope of
groups preparing for Carnival has an annual Jornada partnering with a foreigner
(see p233) are open to the public. Cucalambeana folkloric for entry (occasional police
Don’t miss the evening festival where local songsters sweeps occur, when Cubans
train ing sessions in the various perform décimas, ten-syllable being too friendly with
focos culturales from Tuesday rhyming songs. foreigners are arrested).
to Friday. The Cabildo Carabalí The best such clubs in
Izuama rehearses Carnival Varadero are Mambo Club
songs derived from African Nightclubs, Cabarets and Palacio de la Rumba. All
and Discotheques
musical traditions. In the foco three are popular with Cubans,
cultural, founded by Haitian Most tourist villages and large- who often travel many miles
slaves in the late 1700s, scale hotels in Cuba have clubs to party until dawn. The most
18th-century dances are that open until late. Customers unusual venue is Trinidad’s
accompanied by Bantu musical pay in convertible pesos; Disco Ayala, deep inside a cave.
instruments. Here, too, both the depending on location, most You can also listen to
Casa del Caribe and Centro Cubans cannot afford them, modern “música popular” in
Cultural Africano Fernando so don’t expect to find a broad Casas de la Música in a few
Ortíz hold rumbas on weekends cross-section of Cuban society. major cities. The principal
(see p282: Cultural Centres). Outside tourist resorts, most venue, the Casa de la Música
Guantánamo is the birthplace nightclubs are associated with de Trinidad, hosts concerts by
of many traditional dance cabarets. The most important local groups. Several open-air
forms, including changuí, and are the Tropicana, in both ruins in Trinidad are also used as
is home to the annual June Matanzas and Santiago. Varadero nightclubs. The Patio de Artex
Festival Nacional de Changuí. also offers exc ellent cabarets in Cienfuegos is also bursting
At other times, changuí and its espéctaculos at the Cueva del with energy on weekends; and
derivative, son, are performed Pirata, where shows are held the Club Benny Moré is a
by the world-famous Orquesta in an atmospheric natural cave. 1950s-style nightclub with disco
Revé and other leading local It also now boasts a Casa de la following comedy and cabaret.
proponents at the Casa de la Música. Every other major town Santiago’s venerable hot-
Música, the Casa de la Trova has at least one cabaret, which spots are the Patio de Artex,
(see p282: Casas de la Trova) turn into night clubs with Casa de la Trova and Casa de
and the British West Indian dancing once the show ends. las Tradiciones.
Welfare Center. Witness
Haitian folkloric dance at the
Tumba Francesa.
The Casa de la Cultura in
Pinar del Río is known for its
controversias, a form of song
in which two singers pit them-
selves against each another
in creative impromptu verse.
The Casa de la Cultura in
Nueva Gerona is a centre for
the local music and dance
form known as sucusuco,
unique to the Isla de la
Juventud. And Las Tunas One of the Tropicana dancers in a typically exotic costume

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