Nancy & Gord's Cuban Vacation
Cuban Dancers

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One of the greatest experiences of our trip was meeting the people that work at the resort and seeing the amazing shows performed nightly by the dancers...

Dancers
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Our friends Ernesto & Yanelys.

While many other resorts feature a broader spectrum of entertainment, the Trinidad del Mar stays with a more traditional nightly show, emphasizing Afro-
Cuban and Caribbean culture.... of course, there are contests like Miss/Mr Trididad and other audience participation themes, but these only work if there is a crowd that's "up for it"....

Dancers
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Afro-Cuban show at the Trinidad del Mar

... the history of Cuba is a tumultuous one. Even before Castro's revolution, the country had been a hot spot for trouble, and many of the names honoured in Cuban music, dance and poetry have a rebellious heart at their core. The leader of the Taino tribe in Eastern Cuba, Hatuey, is regarded as the countries first rebel, and many dances, stories (and a beer brand) still exist around his name today...

Dancers
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Afro-Cuban show

The dancers at the resort work as "contract" basis employees and are not full fledged employees of the resort... they work for about 12-14 days on, then have 4 days off. They have meals and accomodations provided for and they are welcome to sit at dinner with hotel guests as long as they are "invited"...

Dancers
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Courtyard of Trinidad del Mar.

I had the pleasure to sit as judge for the Miss Trinidad contest (they wanted us to enter the Mr & Mrs Trinidad del Mar, but thankfully Nancy retired early & we were saved that humiliation!)... the successful candidate had to run around & kiss as many men (on the cheek) as she could within 30 seconds; pick her "dream lover" from the audience based on the resemblance of the man to her fave celebrity and other taudry things...

Dancers
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Traditional Spanish/Cuban costumed dancers.

... the winner was from Montreal (yeah!) and beat out ladies from Argentina and Spain... the Mr. Trinidad contest was a more hyper affair, with the suitors asked to carry their "dream girls" around the resort while serenading them with a rap tune... pretty bad, but funny.

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Traditional Cuban dance.

... after a long day & entertaining night, it was into the hot tub, provided there weren't naked German tourists or hyperactive kids with waterwings around.