La Salsa Cubana

In over 50 years, this is the first film to fully explore and explain Cuba’s de facto national dance, known as casino or “Cuban salsa”.  Step into a world filled with vibrant dancing, fascinating relationships, wonderful music and sumptuous Cuban imagery shot on location in Havana, Cuba.  It’s an insider’s scoop on the contemporary salsa dance scene in Havana rarely seen outside of Cuba. This is the real Cuba, not a Hollywood version filled with narrow Cuban or Latino stereotypes.  It’s an uplifting, crowd-pleasing film with a positive message. 

The heart of this film is a dance group from the Guanabacoa neighborhood at the edge of Havana. The dance group is led by creative genius and somewhat temperamental Albertico who sells meat during the day and runs his dance group by night. Albertico is accompanied by his beautiful girlfriend Yuneisy who fell for him after competing against his dance group. Other members include Jorge who dances with a suave style to seduce women on the dance floor, China the idealistic party-line elementary school teacher, Yosbany the dock worker who claims that dance is his religion, and eleven more members from the neighborhood. Meet the dancers in their homes and local hangouts.  Hear what they have to say about their lives and the dance group. Then follow their joint effort – despite logistical and social challenges – to win on Cuban National TV.

The film is about Cuban salsa – known as casino in Cuba – and the group dance called rueda de casino or wheel of casino that started in private Havana social clubs during the 1950’s. The history of this dance has never been told on film. Dig into the old Havana social clubs, Cuban music history and the role of the Cuban Revolution – all discussed in the film by Cuban luminaries such as musician Adalberto Alvarez, radio personality Eduardo Rosillo, and dance scholar Graciela Chao. Dancers from previous generations tell their stories. These “founding dancers” talk about the early days of the dance and perform it in its original style. Historical footage of the 1950’s is included. So is footage from the Cuban popular dance TV Show Para Bailar Casino – a craze in Cuba.

Between the storylines are the beaches, sugarcane juice stands, old plazas with children playing, and well-known buildings around Havana. Film-makers Eric Johnson and Sarita Streng are dancers and that comes out in the film. Director of Photography Alvaro Rangel’s style is up close and personal and the images are raw and refreshing. Narration is minimal – done with text – so that the voices of the Cuban people can be heard. For anyone interested in dance, Cuba, or a culture rarely seen, this film is a must-see.