Hairy men are back, and don’t ask for forgiveness for the natural smells of their bodies. Beyond any trends, here are some tips for today’s men… WHEN IT SEEMED METROSEXUALITY was the final fate as to the appearance of city boys, a “new”kind of men has arisen: the retro sexual. And we have put in quotations the word “new” because in fact it is not that new. FOR A WHILE NOW, a male archetype has emerged in international runways: in contrast with the extreme sophistication of usual mannequins, bearded men with messy hairs and a slovenly appearance and hairy bodies are walking down the runways. The trend of male depilation, creams and rigorous shaves are being attacked. It seems we are going back to the old concept of men as bears “the hairier, the prettier”. LOOKING BACK IN HISTORY, these trends are not that new. Men have looked into the mirror every once in a while throughout history. Fops from the baroque period wore a lot of powder and wigs, their makeup was excessive; they wore fake beauty spots, heels and clothes with lot of lace and ribbons. By the end of the 19th century, dandies used to walk down...

Poet Reina María Rodríguez has won the National Literature Prize for this 2013. For her "high aesthetic, ethical and conceptual quality” the writer was chosen from among 18 proposals by a jury led by renowned writer Leonardo Padura. Owner of a peculiar lyrical work by her apparent assimilation of traditional poetic sources but with a constant search for new expressive resources, the poet is a benchmark of the best poetry written in the last decades in this island. Woman of refined sensibility, Reina Maria has worked as editor of radio programs and directed the Literature section of the Hermanos Saiz Association. She has won awards like the poetry “Julián del Casal" by the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba in 1980 and 1993, the prize " Plural Magazine" of Mexico in 1992 , and the famous " Casa de las Americas " in 1984 and 1998. Also in 1999, she received the Order of Arts and Letters of France, with the rank of Knight. A few years ago, the House of letters project led by her in the Palacio del Segundo Cabo, was a must for anyone looking to find the best in literature that was done in Cuba...

Alicia Ernestina arrived late to her first ballet class. From the bars, the other girls saw her running across the floor, tiny like a doll with big eyes and very black, vivacious hair like a small animal escaped from the woods. Tardiness cost her light spanking from her first ballet teacher. Since she had no shoes, she took those first classes wearing tennis. Ballet lessons in Pro Arte society were ideal for insufflate wit to the daughters of wealthy families , stretched them their silhouettes , made small bourgeois to move like princesses . But Alicia, that hour went beyond physical postures to look in classrooms, for her ballet was the magical degree of dancing, what she liked to do since she was born. She fought hard. Going to class was a gift. The first time Alicia danced on stage, the fan she had to use to do some changes in the set of girls got stuck. But with such grace she resolved the setback that, at the exit, a musician of the orchestra approached her to sign her program: "When you grow up you will be a great artist," he told her. Her enthusiasm caught the attention. Some mothers...