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Music and Dance in South Louisiana's Cuban Community
By Tomás Montoya González with contributions from T. Ariana Hall.
Translations by Lori N. Tyler, Guillermo Cabrera Rojo, and T. Ariana Hall
Cuban Migration to Louisiana: Race, Identity, And Generation
Creating Cuba in New Orleans
Cuban Music and Dance Styles and Instruments
Nightclubs, Music, and Dancing
Conclusion
Conclusion
Cubans who immigrated to Louisiana came for a variety of reasons: political, economic, or simply because they had the opportunity. Although Cuba is a country with its own unique traditions, those who have traveled to Louisiana agree that it is culturally very similar to their home country. The climate, architecture, and history mirror the Cuban environment, so much so that many Cubans have made their homes here. In a more connected global society, many Cubans are able to access numerous aspects of their culture in a variety of ways. Ailene Cabrera explains how she collects Cuban culture, including music, from various sources and eloquently expresses the importance of maintaining her Cuban identity:
I do as much as possible to keep my culture alive. Almost every day I eat Cuban food. Actually, I even have a Cuban cookbook right here. Additionally, when I went to Cuba I brought a lot of Cuban decorations for my house. I even have a Cuban flag in my office. In Louisiana, there are some places where we can get Latin food, but it's very expensive. We can find pretty much all types of food here; however, it is more expensive than in Miami. Regarding how and where we can get music, nowadays we can find it everywhere, especially on the Internet. People also bring music and movies from Cuba and we share them with each other. I have a TV channel where they play old Cuban movies, interviews, and other things. There is also a pretty interesting satellite channel where they interview Cuban celebrities, musicians, writers, etc. … I always keep in touch with my friends and we pass along news and anything regarding Cuba.
In trying to maintain their culture, Cubans in Louisiana have created social clubs, music groups, festivals, and societies. They also include Cuban elements in their home life. Music and dance are at the heart of their public gatherings, domestic celebrations, and everyday life.
Tomás Montoya González is a Ph.D. candidate in sociology, specializing in popular culture, at the University of Oriente in Santiago de Cuba. He has taught history, philosophy, and aesthetics at the music and visual arts high school conservatories in Santiago de Cuba.
Ariana Hall is the Executive Director of the the CubaNOLA Arts Collective, a non-profit organization in New Orleans focused on the cultural connection between Cuba and New Orleans, Louisiana.
The essay was a collaborative project produced by CubaNOLA. Tomás Montoya González conducted the research and submitted the original essay in Spanish. Lori Tyler translated the essay into English. Guillermo Cabrera Rojo served as technical assistant and translator. Ariana Hall added contributions to the essay and edited the final translation. This article was prepared as part of the New Populations Project. See another article on this community, Carnival, Feast Days, and House Parties: Cuban Celebrations in Louisiana after 1960.
References
Alén Rodríguez, Olavo, Pensamiento musicológico, Editorial Letras Cubanas, La Habana, 2006.
Moore, Robin D, Música y mestizaje. Revolución artística y cambio social en la Habana. 1920-1940, Editorial Colibrí, España, 2002.
Orovio, Helio, Diccionario de la música cubana. Biográfico y técnico, Editorial Letras Cubanas, La Habana, segunda edición, 1992.
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