Cuba celebrates this October 20 the Day of the Cuban culturea day marked by various artistic and literary activities throughout the island and which culminates in the opening of the 27 Havana International Ballet Festival.
On this date, Cubans commemorate the first public singing of their National Anthem, an event that occurred on October 20, 1868, just 10 days after the start of the first war for independence against the Spanish metropolis.
On that occasion, and after making his entrance with the insurgent troops in the city of Bayamo, the patriot, musician and poet Pedro “Perucho” Figueredo created the lyrics of the anthem he had composed months before. It is said of him that he wrote it on his own horse’s saddle and then passed it on to the surrounding crowd, who then sang it in jubilation at the liberation of the city.
In homage to these events, every year the Day of Cuban Culture is organized, which begins on October 10 and ends on a day like today. On this occasion, the event was dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Nueva Trova movementone of the most deeply rooted and significant musical movements on the Island.
In addition, institutions and relevant figures of culture in the country have been honored, artists who have disappeared have been remembered, artistic work in the communities has been highlighted and a wide range of activities have been carried out, including exhibitions, concerts, cinematographic cycles and book presentations.
We celebrate the Cuban Culture Day!
From the #UNEACthe Vice President of the Alejo Carpentier Foundation presents the definitive edition of the literary classic “The Age of Enlightenment” by Carpentier.#TheCultureIsTheHomeland #CubaIsCulture pic.twitter.com/zYFT6NVi3u— UNEAC (@UNEAC_online) October 20, 2022
As the closing of the day and the climax of the celebration for the day of national culture, this Thursday the 27th edition of the International Festival of Ballet of Havana “Alicia Alonso”, which will last until November 13, and in which important dancers and international companies will participate together with the host National Ballet of Cuba (BNC).
Other Cuban groups such as Acosta Danza, Micompañía and Malpaso will also take part in the event. In addition, Cuban dancers who perform in other countries, such as Yolanda Correa (Germany), Catherine Zuaznábar (Switzerland), Erick Rodríguez (Mexico) and Gian Carlo Pérez (United States), will return to the island’s stages.
Among the most anticipated moments of the festival will be the presentations of the famous work “Carmen”, with choreography by Johan Inger, by the National Dance Company of Spain, which will serve as the closing of the event; and various performances of the classic “Giselle”, with different soloists each night, which will kick off the jubilee for the 75th anniversary of the BNC. In addition, there will also be photographic exhibitions and film exhibitions, as collateral activities.
