SOCIAL SCENE: Cuban affair

Young musicians from the Barbados Community College (BCC) Cuban Ensemble illustrated the spirit and vibrant nature of the Cuban people with the energetic set of music they played at the reception to mark the 58th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution last week.

Members of the diplomatic corps, supporters of the Cuban struggle such as David Comissiong and David Denny, and other friends of Cuba, attended the event at the Grand Salle of the Tom Adams Financial Centre.

The Cubans and their guests could not resist the infectious music which filled the air  after the formalities of the evening had ended, and Cuban Ambassador Fernando Pena got the dancing started, putting down impressive salsa steps with his wife Ana. Several guests followed the couple’s lead, showing off their prowess at Latin dance.

BCC student Kareem Agard led the vocals and the upbeat guests joined in when he sang the popular folk song La Bamba. Former CBC personality Sharon Marshall was among those on the dance floor while her Cuban husband Pedro joined the BCC students, playing an instrument. Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Maxine McClean also set aside her diplomatic hat for dancing shoes, as did her colleague Senator Patrick Todd.

As Ambassador Pena had suggested in his address, it was an effusive demonstration of the friendship between Barbados and Cuba. (GC)