More than one thousand artists will perform all at once for ten days in about a hundred cultural institutions in Havana. This has been advertised as the most ambitious Cuban cultural program lately. This project is called Habanarte and its slogan reads: “Art all at once”.
From September 11 through 21, this huge party will pay homage to the best musical, dancing, plastic, cinematographic, and theater exponents in Cuba. In that framework artists from all artistic manifestations and styles will share the stage in such a way that in one day spectators will have the opportunity of enjoying Van Van, Pupi or Habana de Primera, Eliades Ochoa orthe Buena Vista Social Club and its diva OmaraPortuondo.
The event has been conceived as a showcase for Cuban culture to offer a synthesis of the best Cuban art for the national and foreign public. The Cuban National Ballet, the Spanish Ballet, Contemporary Danceand Lizt Alfonso’sdance companies, as well as about twenty theater groups like El Publico and La Colmenita, will also take part in this event.
Habanarte’s program of activities includes exhibits of significant pieces of contemporary Cuban art. In this regard, Anneris I. Leyva, Communications director of the event, told OnCuba that during those ten days Havana will display its enormous patrimony and will host a second edition of the young art exhibit Post-it, while its cinemas will screen a retrospective of the cinema in Cuba.
There will be no free time in Havana; during mornings ballet, dance, and folklore lessons will be multiplied and for the eveningsthe Casas de la Musica, the Palacio de la Rumba, the Fabrica de Arte and other institutions will welcome Pachito Alonso, AdalbertoÁlvarez, LiubaMaríaHevia, IvetteCepeda, Harold López-Nussa, Ernesto and David Blanco, Síntesis, NG La Banda, X Alfonso, Maykel Blanco andOsdalgia, among others.
All cultural centers in the capital will be at the service of Habanarte, as well as cinemas, theaters, galleries and more intimate spaces, for hosting performances by the National Symphonic Orchestra, sextets Habanero and Ignacio Piñeiro’s, and the best representation of jazz in Cuba.
Habanartewill promote cultural tourism in Cuba. Its present challenge is to spread this authentic proposal of the Cuban culture in potential markets. Congratulations then! And let Havana open up for all kinds of art and audiences all at once.