Children

We have learned that Cuba is trying to preserve its cultural tradition. One of the ways it does that is to pay people who teach the arts. An example of this is a “professor” of dance, who leads several groups of children in Cienfuegos.

We were treated to a musical performance by one of these groups while we were in Cienfuegos one day. These children range from 4 to 8 years of age, and they are very serious performers.

The teacher explained that children come to audition to join the program. They don’t have to come with any kind of experience. What she is looking for is the child who exhibits the desire to dance or sing (although there are other arts programs the children can choose, such as drawing or ceramics. In the Cienfuegos area there are several other Arts programs.)

The funniest part of the program was the littlest children – one of whom had an eggshell on her head another who kept squatting and flapping her wings, and the third who wore a coxcomb on her head and strutted around like a rooster. The audience just couldn’t stop laughing.

And then there was the little boy who brought down the house – sitting and singing with an absolutely stone face – I am NOT going to crack a smile – there may be girls dancing around me, pretending to be chickens (and eggs) but I AM going to sing and you KNOW that I am SERIOUS!

The children sang and danced to traditional Cuban children’s songs, and they obviously were having a good time.

After the performance (and many bows) the children were asked to introduced themselves and say what they wanted to be when they grow up. Most of them said “dancer” or “singer,” but one little girl wanted to be a nurse, and another a doctor.

There are arts colleges that the children can attend after high school, and once they graduate, they are considered to be professionals. It appears that they can then audition to join professional groups. In fact, one of the young men who does the choreography for the group said that he belongs to a regional company.

So clearly, Cuba is trying to train up its talent from a very young age!

Cienfuegos, Cuba 4/8/18

Posted from Trinidad, Cuba 4/11/18