CITY OF THE DANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1921, Page 4

CITY OF THE DANCE

(By Marion Ryan). HAVANA, Cuba. London, Paris, and New York think they are fond of dancing, hut it is in Havana that the dance fever reaches its highest temperature. Havana is confessedly dance mad. It does not matter how old you are, or how fat you are, or how poor you are, here you dance from morning till night and from night till morning. You dance at restaurants, hotels, cafe casinos, in parks and squares, and if you go to a dance at someone’s house you dance from the drawing-room out into the patio (inner courtyard), and an enterprising partner will whirl you through the hallway into the street, and twirl you about on the pavement or in the road just long enough to interest the passers-by, who may join in the dance with you and take a turn through the house to show their appreciation of the fact that you are having a good time. El Grito de Raire, the Cuban Independence Day, is celebrated with all the vigour of youth on February 24. It makes the Fourth of July in America and the Fourteenth of July in Paris seem like jaded attempts to show an appreciation of liberty. At midnight on February 23 the noise begins with twenty-four official cannon shots, followed by a salvo of rockets and lire crackers. “El Grito de Raire,” shouts every excited Cuban in Havana, and does his best to add to the noise. Early in the day the hands begin to play and the streets are like one great fancy-dress ball, for there is a carnival and confetti. You can howl yourself hoarse and invent any form of noise imaginable, for the police are helping the celebration and would not dream of arresting anyone. And you can dance when and where and how you please. And such dancing! We think we know the fox-trot and the one-step in England, but we do not know anything of their possibilities till we sec them danced by Spaniards and bear a Spanish orchestra play them. There is a beautiful dance called the Havanian which is a combination tango and jazz. No one lias to take lessons in it. Every Cuban seems ti know it from birth, and as they all da.ice it every day or night, they should be fairly proficient in its intricacies. The Havana orchestras are certainly the hardest-worked men in the world. They have no unions and no fixed hours, but they have plenty of sympathy with dancers.

The orchestra never leaves until riic last couple have danced the last dance. They begin playing at tea-time and rest a little before dinner, but from the dinner hour till the next day is well advanced they play steadily on for just as long as anyone wants them to play. If the dancqrs arc very expert and enthusiastic the orchestra becomes even more so. The leader is quite likely tefc throw out a few encouraging words. Perhaps he will even sing as lie plays his violin and he will he only too delightful to give as many encores as the dancers demand.

“The City of the Dance” the Cubans call Havana.