Cuba now holds the world record for the longest continuous performance of casino rueda (wheel) dancing. This remarkable feat aims to preserve the roots of Cuban music and honor its most significant proponents.
A total of 331 dancers from 17 academies in Havana participated for an impressive 15 minutes and 22 seconds. Luis Llamo, president of the international project "Retomando el Son Bailando Casino" (Reclaiming the Son, Dancing Casino), exclusively shared this detail with Prensa Latina.
The initiative, held the previous day at Pabellón Cuba in the capital, was in celebration of the 506th anniversary of the founding of the former village of San Cristóbal de La Habana, on November 16th, and in tribute to the birth anniversary of the "Knight of Son," Adalberto Álvarez (1948-2021), which falls on November 22nd.
"This is a dedicated effort by our project, with the goal of safeguarding the authentic roots of our music, with a strong emphasis on Cuban son, its rhythms, and popular dances," explained Llamo, who is widely known as "El Embajador del Son" (The Ambassador of Son).
This cultural endeavor pays homage to the memory of the great soneros whose indelible contributions paved the way, including Ignacio Piñeiro, Arsenio Rodríguez, Miguelito Cuní, Benny Moré, Dámaso Pérez Prado, and Juan Formell.
"We must also remember José Luis Cortés and Adalberto Álvarez, who marked a significant era and were instrumental in establishing Cuban Son Day on May 8th," he emphasized.
Through this initiative, Llamo stated, the "Retomando el Son Bailando Casino" project seeks to actively combat cultural colonization while promoting the preservation of the genre, ensuring its understanding and enjoyment for new generations.
(Taken from Prensa Latina)
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