Wednesday, 15 September 2010 20:27
Tropicana
One aspect of this issue that remains to be addressed is the current problem with dancers in Havana. Until the 60's, there were great meccas for dance, like the Salon Mambi at Tropicana, which was the highlight of the famous Cabaret Tropicana.
Another place that was very popular at the time was La Piragüa, right on the Malecon, and the Cerveceria Polar, in Marianao. These clubs literally kept thousands of people on their feet.
The first place disappeared, while the second promotes one or two dance events a year. The third club has been closed for many years.
There were other places, too, for dancing: the Amphitheater of Marianao, or the Plaza Roja in Víbora, to name just two, were hugely popular. They are both shuttered now.
To sum up: going out to dance and have a good time has always been one of the favorite pastimes of Havanans, yet it is practically extinct. The situation is so dire that a recent report on Cuban TV revealed that all nightclubs in the city only have capacity for 2,000 people each day. This, in a city that has a population that hovers around 3 million, is ridiculous.
Opinions published recently in Juventud Rebelde (a state-run publication aimed at Cuban youth) may hold the key:
«It's not easy finding somewhere to go out».
«One night at a club equals my Mom's salary for a month…».
«Going out for a night is expensive, and I can't afford it».
«Please don't charge such an expensive cover, so young people can pay an affordable price».
And it goes on and on...
Of course, these problems don't affect visiting tourists, or Cubans with means, but rather for the average Havanan who loves to dance and can't afford to. Dancing is a part of our history, our traditions and our national character.
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