Contramaestre, the hand fan city in Cuba
Contramaestre became the hand fan city in Cuba on August 3 and 4, bringing together clubs from a large part of the island’s geography. The groups of dancers competed to celebrate the 6th edition of the Hand Fan Festival, an event that is now part of the intangible heritage of this municipality in eastern Cuba.
The reception to the dancers took place on Saturday 4, at Jesús Rabí central park, where the participants, together with the authorities of the local Communist Party and the Government, gathered to officially open the event with the laying of a wreath to Fatherland’s Mother, Mariana Grajales.
Then there was a welcoming dance, where old and new generations joined, with the defined purpose of working on the preservation of a root, which identifies the Contramaestre throughout the island.
Cultural Magazine
On the evening of August 3, the House of the Young Creator became the ideal setting to appreciate the Contramaestre’s artistic talent.
Before the participants, troubadours, balladists, boleristas (bolero singers), decimists and singers of Mexican corridos paraded.
Each presentation gained applause for the quality of the performances.
It was a luxurious afternoon, where the delegates to the appointment with the hand fan, understood the passion of the club Juventino Leguén Zamora, and the leadership of Enilda Rosales, its leader, who are already on their way to the 7th edition of the festival in 2020.
Red Carpet Night
The night became immense, when Jesús Rabí Park was taken over by the people of Contramaestre, who came massively to meet the danzoneros (“danzón dancers”).
They danced to the rhythm of the Charanga Santiaguera orchestra, which played emblematic pieces such as Las Alturas de Simpsom, Almendra and others, delighting the participants of the evening.
The applause was unanimous before the invitation of the red catwalk. The delegates expressed cubanness, passion in dress, and above all, dancing and exhibiting the hand fan, an event of national significance, which six years ago distinguished Contramaestre.
Theoretical Colloquium
On Sunday morning, the participants were welcomed under the arbor of the El Trópico ice-cream parlor. There the presentations were debated and the value of Danzón for national identity was recognized.
It was also proposed to prepare the file, with its corresponding basis, of the Danzón Club Juventino Leguén of Contramaestre, for the Memoria Viva Award, since it is over 21 years old, defending the best of traditional Cuban music.
The delegates reflected on the importance of dance-therapy in old age and the fact of remaining socially active, based on the networks of affective exchanges that are articulated between clubs throughout the country.
Honor to whom honor is due
During the Sixth Edition of the Hand Fan Festival, the Secretary of the Municipal government of Contramaestre, Damarys Sarmiento Duany, together with the First Secretary of the Communist Party in the municipality, José Ángel Labrada Castillo, honored the delegates with their presence in each of the main moments of the meeting.
There remained the commitment of the highest authorities to turn Contramaestre into the city of the hand fan in Cuba, managing a better event for 2020, for the value of the same for the national culture, starting from the precept of Fidel Castro, that a people that does not take care of their traditions, runs the risk of getting lost in the future.
