Dos Gardenias, the home of Bolero.
It is still a matter of debate whether the bolero, that romantic music genre, was born in Cuba or Mexico, though for me it is clear- Cuba.
Many Cuban composers have known world-wide success with the bolero, and even into the 21st century, the bolero is still going strong, setting hearts racing and bringing old memories to life.
One of these famous composers was Isolina Carrilo, who wrote Dos Gardenias, sung by the famous Puerto Rican singer Daniel Santos, with orchestration by the Cuban musician Damaso Perez Prado, creator of the mambo. Perez Prado added the acoustic piano to the recorded version of the song, which was a daring addition in those days. In an interview, Isolina once said, "Dos Gardenias, with its countless recordings and versions, is more than just a popular or commercial success. It is a piece of my life."
I should add that "Dos Gardenias" became a sort of anthem in several countries especially Spain and Mexico; it was in this last country where it won the Ariel Award in 1952 (like the Mexican Grammy), for having held the number one spot for two years straight. So what better name to give a club devoted to the art of the bolero?
Located in a modern building, at the intersection of Avenida 7 and 26 call 26, in the Miramar neighborhood of the town of Playa, you'll find the Dos Gardenias, a home for bolero as well as a tourist complex with many attractions for visitors. Here you'll find the Dos Gardenias Video Bar, which is designed for younger people, with screens showing funny videos along with music videos. There is an emcee who encourages people to sing karaoke, and introduces visiting comedy troupes, as well as one-act musicals.
The Dos Gardenias has the charm of a bolero, an art form as Cuban as the palm trees on our beaches. The ambience is relaxed, the service is great, and the performances are always top-notch, with visits by performers like Mundito Gonzalez and Maria Elena Pena, just to name two. There is little room to dance, but this doesn't matter. Couples in love need little space to share the passion and romance of the bolero.
|
|
