Salsa nights begin in Havana (+Photos)

The sixth edition of the Salsa Festival opened in this capital with the participation of 27 top-level domestic orchestras and dancers from some 10 countries.

With its main venue at Club 500 (12th Street between Calzada and Tercera Streets, in the neighborhood of El Vedado), the event will consist of dance workshops, DJ presentations and numerous concerts until next Sunday, the director of Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor band, who is the honorary president of this festival and its main promoter said at a recent press conference.

In addition to this group, Los Van Van, Pupy y los que son Son, Alexander Abreu y Havana D’Primera, Adalberto Alvarez y su Son, Isaac Delgado, Paulo FG y su Elite, Lazarito Valdes y Bamboleo, Elito Reve y su Charangon, NG La Banda, Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco, and Anacaona have confirmed participation in the festival.

Among foreign guests are US percussionists of Latin origin Roberto ‘Bobby’ Allende and Marc Quiñones, who were part of the bands of great salsa musicians such as Ruben Blades, Willie Colon and Marc Anthony.

Blanco explained that the virtuoso instrumentalists will perform in the night shows every day, at which they will perform with the Cuban groups.

The events at Club 500 will start on Thursday at 4:00 p.m., local time, with parades, DJ presentations, sales of publications and records by the artists participating in the festival.

The Salsa Festival is sponsored by Cuban institutions, the Provincial Directorate of Culture in Havana, the Provincial Carnival Company, the Artex artistic promotions company, its representation agency Musicalia, and the Paradiso cultural tourism agency.

Artex Vice President Tania Cardo noted that more than 200 dancers and spectators, mainly from the United States, France, Colombia, Italy, Panama, Peru, and Spain have confirmed participation in the event.