Thursday, August 02, 2007

I am going to Cuba

That is I am going to experience Cuban culture, music, history, and all that is the Buena Vista Social Club. In Antigua I heard one member of the band- following this I viewed the documentary. Tonight a band of Buena Vista is in Xela and I will attend with classmates and teachers from school. This band is a musical goldmine in Cuba´s history. I nearly cried during the documentary seeing the old band members smiling on stage in New York with their eyes glistening in the spotlights. It raises issues of art, politics, geography, history... and touches me the way music should.

To boot, I have found a pretty fantastic dance partner in town and taken up a few salsa and merengue moves. This has become a regular outing at night with friends from school, teachers, and my dance partner. I am taking my two step to the concert, too.

Yesterday I danced for two hours with the women in prison. First with a dance video, then only with music. They either thought I was really good (i hope?) or really bad, because the women called me back from a break to dance so the director could see. Que Extraño. I have come to really enjoy my days in the prison with activities from drawing to sewing, dancing, cooking, talking, reading.. and hoping soon to incorporate win lose or draw, español style.

Big hug to you today!

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