Success Pan Sounds, Cubans in concert

The programme started with Success Stars playing perfect renditions of the national anthems of Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago; and continued with many speeches complete with interpreters; interspersed with parang from Los Angeles de San Miguel, the Prem Jyoti Dance Academy’s East Indian Dance, North West Laventille Cultural Performers’ Tribute to the Ancestors (Orisha dance), limbo, Winston “Gypsy” Peters in calypso and a parade of Carnival characters.

But the highlight of the programme came when during the Pan Sounds’ rousing performance of Hunger, the Cubans spontaneously left their seats in the audience, ran on stage and in the twinkling of an eye choreographed a dance to the pulsating sounds of the steelband.

It was an electrifying moment and something which another guest agreed with me, would unlikely have happened with a Trinidad dance troupe.

The reception ended with a luncheon. The menu prepared by the Regiment included baked chicken in a tomato sauce, fried fish in a creole sauce, Caribbean- style pigeon peas, Trini vegetable rice and a tossed salad with a country dressing.

Concert performances by the Cubans, in a ten-day programme which includes several workshops, will take place at 7.30 pm tomorrow at Queen’s Hall, on Friday at Naparima Bowl, San Fernando, and on Sunday at Shaw Park in Tobago.