Danzon Habana 2017 Promotes Daily Practice of That Musical Genre

The president of the International Festival Danzon Habana 2017, Jose Loyola, said that the main objective of that cultural event is to promote the daily practice of the musical and dance culture of that genre.

'For us, not to perform shows for the sake of the show is essential, but every concert or dance encourage the daily practice of the culture of dance and danzon,' the PhD in musicology, flautist and orchestra director told Prensa Latina.

This festival, organized by the National Association of Cuban Writers and Artists (UNEAC), consists of activities in places where ‘danzon' is danced, such as the Caribbean Association of Cuba, where cultural gatherings with dancers take place every month, Loyola said.

'We talk about La Tropical's Salon Rosado Benny More in this capital, an emblematic place for popular dance, where Cuban music concerts and dances take place every Thursday. So my orchestra, Charanga de Oro, and the Barbarito Diez orchestra, which promote bolero in danzon, performed there on June 22.'

He insisted on the importance of the daily practice of danzon, and stressed that a popular dance event was held at Paseo del Prado, in Havana, on Tuesday, June 20, in the context of the festival, with huge participation.

'Open cultural gatherings for danzon dancers take place there every month,' he added.

Loyola noted the performance of two orchestras in that show, El Piquete Tipico Cubano, a format that is reminiscent of the one used by Miguel Failde when he premiered 'Las Alturas de Simpson', which is recognized as the first danzon, at the Lyceum of Matanzas in 1879.

The program included a four-day show entitled 'Con Boleros, en saludo al danzon' at the America Theater, the festival's president concluded.