Cabaret Cuba

STATEMENT:
This documentary is an important resource in capturing the disappearing history and culture of a club that is fundamental to Cuba’s national history. It is a piece of work of historic importance and in itself an artefact that preserves a cultural moment lost in time. To a European/ Western audience it is a look into a radically different socio-economic-philosophical lifestyle that isn’t so driven by economic motivations. It is a place where passion drives money rather than the reverse. Dance culture as a free art form epitomises this societal drive away from consumerist and capitalist society. It is an act that requires no commodity you can buy, where your only requirement to participate is your body.

AUDIENCE:
Dance is a universal narrative that explores the key emotions in us all: love, passion and community. Therefore, this is a narrative that we can all hook onto and be entertained by. Dance itself is a powerful medium to tell a narrative. This documentary aims to comment on the state of Cuban identity from a native perspective. Not only is this documentary a pleasurable and exciting watch for dance enthusiasts, but spectacular visual entertainment for family viewing and enticing for those historically aware and intrigued about a behind the scenes historical narrative of a Cuban community. We can therefore say this would appeal and is appropriate to people of all ages.

ABOUT:
What was Tropicana? Founded in 1950s Havana, Tropicana was a pleasure dome, a dazzling and glamourous Cabaret show of singers and dancers in jaw-dropping sequined costumes who performed for some of the most prestigious guests of the time. Their influence placed Cuba on the map as one of the most desired destinations to visit. This documentary is an opportunity to see behind the scenes of a dying and forgotten art, the Tropicana Cabaret Company. It captures a moment in history that has been neglected by the wider world despite the worldwide success of Tropicana. A culture with so much to show and yet so much hidden. Czech-Swiss born award-winning filmmaker Madeleine Duba (nominated for BAFTA, British Animation Award, CBS Jumbotron N.Y, winner of Canada Film Festival and Prix Leonardo Italy) spotlights dance as one of the key epithets of Cuban identity. Via an on-the- ground documentary style, this is an opportunity to open the doors to the Cuban national identity, a fusion that spans European, Spanish and African ancestry in its own unique nature and culminates in a stage show like no other. It showcases the full breadth of Cuban movements and rhythms from cabaret and street salsa to Afro-Cuban dance, from the classically trained ballerinas to the street dancers of Havana. Produced by Cuban classically-trained Tropicana dancer, Homero Gonzalez, now a London based choreographer, we trace his life in Cuba, and that of several of the men and women he danced with, as he lives and breathes the art form and culture of Cuban dance.

SYNOPSIS:
We are introduced via a series of stunning 1950’s unseen archived colour footage of the Tropicana dancers whilst meeting Tropicana directors, Santiago Alfonso, Andres Gutierrez, Raffael Hernandez, Gilberto Boza, of the thriving club in the 60s, 70s and 80s. We begin in the 60s with footage of Fidel Castro’s leadership. We are then introduced to each dancer reminiscing today about their careers as young dancers at the Tropicana cabaret. They detail how their bodies have changed over the years but they still live and breathe the memory of this uniquely Cuban way of life. We see how their staggering athleticism survives to the present day when they are now in their 60s and 70s. This this is montaged with their anecdotal accounts of the heyday of the Tropicana Club. These character introductions are woven within clips of Cuba’s living streets where dancing, singing and happiness seem constantly in evidence despite the clear lack of resources. We then meet choreographers and musicians who played a key part in the Tropicana becoming a world-renowned show that toured London, Paris and Monaco to name a few big stages. There is a focus on the key components behind the art and we see what goes into organising Carnival and how fundamental this is to the soul of the people who design the costumes, the performers and organisers. The narrative may be a nostalgic lament of a culture and youth that no longer exists, but the message is an optimistic fundamental belief that Cuba will constantly renew and invent itself. After all they say, “it’s not the lack of resources, it’s your lack of resourcefulness that stops you.” Our final image is of the new and hopeful generation of Cubanistas dancing together.