There has never been so much casino dancing on the Island. This Sunday, Cuba broke the world and national record for Cuban popular and sports dances, thus reverenced for Son Day, which will be celebrated tomorrow, May 8.
Achieving it has been a feat, and not for that reason unenjoyable. Having the largest number of people dancing, simultaneously, on casino wheels, as well as the largest number of wheels at the same time, was a commitment of the international project Retomando el son, Bailando casino, led by cultural promoter Luis Llamo Castillo , with whom Granma spoke, to elaborate on the details of the event, whose central event took place in the Plaza La Piragua, in front of the capital’s Malecón.
For nine minutes, 142 casino rounds were held throughout the island at the same time, with more than 2,900 dancers throughout the country, the National Council of Houses of Culture reported on its Facebook page, which, together with the Ministry of Culture and other institutions, has accompanied the event.
–When was the project born?
–The project arose in 1995, in Bayamo, to contribute to the safeguarding of Cuban son, and its main objective is for all soneros in the world to continue this music, and bring it to people of all ages. We are currently working to bring the experience to the 168 municipalities in the country.
–Did you expect this result?
–Yes, we have been working to achieve it for a year, and we know that we can do it even better. Now we are focused on breaking, in November, the Guinness record, with the largest casino wheel, which we want to have next to the one we just achieved.
–Who wins with this beautiful cultural event?
–With this, Cuban culture wins, the people win, because what really happened is our essences, our roots, our identity, which are deep values. And there has been a humanism in all these casinos, a great camaraderie typical of Cubans. I believe that we have sent the world a message of peace, love, and brotherhood. Many people were waiting for Cuba to be projected in this way.
«We are satisfied because Cuba has been able to demonstrate, before the world, that no foreign element can extinguish our culture, and this is a forceful response to cultural decolonization. “I think that UNESCO can take it into account when declaring Son as the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.”
