Cuba en Tucson...

After Summer Break, CUBA EN TUCSON returns with Fall 2009 programs

2009-09-09T09:56:00.000-07:00

A Tucsonan in Cuba

(Un Tucsonense en Cuba)

September 17, 2009

7:oo PM

The Little Chapel / University of Arizona

Tom Miller has been visiting Cuba regularly since 1987 on writing assignments for leading publications, to visit family, and to lead educational trips on behalf of the National Geographic Society.

He is most intrigued with the cultural and political contradictions he has observed over the years, during which he has gained an intimate understanding of life on the island. He will share his expertise with us and answer questions about travel to the island.

Tom is the author of the book

Trading With the Enemy: A Yankee Travels Through Castro's Cuba

–described by the Lonely Planet Travel Series as maybe “the best travel book

about Cuba ever written.”

Visit his website: http://www.tommillerbooks.com/

Admission is $5

(includes talk and, as always,

delicious Cuban food,

and music)

Cuban Cultural Night: APRIL 16, 2009

2009-04-06T21:47:00.000-07:00

Join us for the last meeting of our Spring 2009 Season!!!

Las Reinas del Trópico:
Cuban Rumberas in Mexican ‘Classical’ Cinema

Lecture and Presentation
by
Dr. Laura G. Gutierrez
(Dept. Spanish & Portuguese,
University of Arizona)

( see video clip of Ninon Sevilla dancing Rumba below)

Starting in the 1930’s, thanks in large part to the filmmaker, actor, and dancer Juan Orol, Cuban rumberas began traveling to Mexico to work, primarily, in the emerging national film industry. Although rumberas (female rumba dancers) had appeared in films prior to 1938, it was during this year, with Orol’s film Siboney, which featured the incredible dancer of Afro-Cuban rhythms María Antonieta Pons, that a new melodrama subgenre emerged. For almost two decades—coinciding with Mexico’s so-called Golden Age period (roughly the late 1930’s to early 1950’s)—filmmakers exploited the appeal that these “Reinas del Trópico,”—including Pons mentioned above, but also Rosa Carmina, Amalia Aguilar, and Ninón Sevilla—had over their audiences. Using images and clips from a number of selected films—including La Reina del Trópico, Víctimas del pecado, Sandra, la mujer del fuego—this presentation introduces the Tucson community to these rumberas, which continue to occupy an important place in the Mexican and transnational imaginary of old and new audiences alike.

April 16, 2009

6:30PM

(program starts sharp at 7pm)

The Little Chapel
University of Arizona
(First and Highland: from Speedway,
enter Cherry and then First)

ADMISSION: $ 5
Includes Lecture,
Delicious Cuban Food and
Music by Duo Libre (Yasel y Alejandro)

Ninon Sevilla: Rumbera Cubana in 1950 Mexican film "Victimas del Pecado"

2009-04-06T21:15:00.000-07:00

Caldosa: "Cuban Street Stew"

2009-03-26T21:20:00.000-07:00

“Noche de Caldosa”
Cuba en Tucson
March 26, 2009

A few interesting facts:

“Caldosa” is a word derived from “caldo” (broth or soup). It is usually thicker than just broth, however. The best way to describe it in English is to call it a “stew.”

The caldosa is a more recent version of a very traditional Cuban dish known as “Ajiaco.”

In the year 1570, a version of Ajiaco was already popular in the island. It is believed that Ajiaco derived from a traditional Spanish stew known as “olla española” (Spanish pot) which consisted of a mix of meats and vegetables cooked slowly.

In 1856 the first published “Manual of Cuban Cuisine” included a recipe for Ajiaco –a country dish made with beef, pork, chicken and a wide variety of tropical root vegetables or tubers (“malanga” or Taro Root, potatoes, green plantains, sweet potatoes, yams, corn, and some recipes include chayote).

The word “ajiaco” has come to mean in Cuban vernacular any kind of cultural mix –especially when it refers to music and folkways of the Cuban people.

After the Revolution of 1959, the Ajiaco underwent a transformation –it became “Caldosa,” a public cooking event in which each neighbor brings whatever ingredients they have at hand. Some critics say this came about because of food scarcity; others believe that the change had more to do with the collective emphasis of socialism.

This opinion is supported by the fact that Noches de Caldosa are officially celebrated in each Cuban street and organized by the CDRs (Comite de Defensa de la Revolucion) –a political kind of “neighborhood watch” established in each street.

There is a famous Cuban “son” (traditional song) that honors the Caldosa. It is called “La Caldosa de Kike y Marina” in reference to an elderly couple from the province of Las Tunas. Legend has it that they “invented” the dish, but in fact the history of the Cuban Stew dates back centuries.

Yasel & Alejandro at Cuba en Tucson, Feb 26/09, sing original work "Violetas y Pegasos"

2009-02-28T22:00:00.000-08:00

Libre sings a traditional Cuban song "Compay Gallo"

2009-02-26T22:03:00.000-08:00

Monthly Meeting FEBRUARY 2009

2009-02-18T20:45:00.000-08:00

TUCSON PREMIERE!!!!!!

(Also showing this month at the "Festival del Habano" in Cuba)

Presentation of the Documentary Short...

Con El Toque De La Chaveta

(With a Stroke of the Chaveta)

Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jherrerafamily/3221845986/

by
Pamela Sporn (USA 2007)

28 min
Spanish with English subtitles

This film takes viewers into the legendary cigar factories of Cuba where we witness the unique tradition of “la lectura de tabaquería,” the collective reading of literature while tabaqueros roll habanos. The film has been described as a poetic documentary that leaves us wondering where to draw the line between "worker" and "intellectual."

Thursday, February 26
6:30 PM (program starts at 7:00pm sharp)
The Little Chapel (University of Arizona)

Admission $ 5
Includes Film, Cuban food,
and music by Duo Libre (Yasel y Alejandro)

About the Film Director

Pamela Sporn is a Bronx based educator and documentary video maker. Since the late 1980s she has guided New York City teenagers in producing videos that reflect the unique perspective of urban youth. She has also produced two other films related to Cubans in New York. The documentary short "Con el Toque de la Chaveta" won the Jury Award for Best Documentary Short at the festival Cine Las Americas in Austin Texas in 2008. It has been shown at the Los Angeles International Latino Film Festival, the London International Documentary Film Festival, the Ybor Festival of the Moving Image in Tampa, Florida, and at the Festival del Habano in Havana, Cuba in 2009.

What is a Chaveta?

It's the knife used in a cigar factory for cutting the wrapper leaf

A long and venerable tradition

In the cigar factories of Cuba, a unique tradition persists: ‘la lectura de tabaqueria’ . Every day, specially employed workers read out loud to the two or three-hundred tabaqueros as they sit rolling the country’s famous cigars.

From classic novels to national politics and local baseball results, for many years this daily tradition has been an education for the workers. But after years of listening, they are now knowledgeable and demanding, and the readers must be at their very best if they are to keep their discerning audience interested.

Cigar makers. One, perhaps two or three hundred sat in rows at wooden tables, skilled fingers rolling moist leaves of tobacco. The lector. Only one sat at the tribuna raised above the workers. Two hands held a book, maybe a newspaper. Words rolled off the lector’s tongue, resonating throughout the factory.

Together, tabaqueros and lectores traveled to the Spain of Don Quijote, the France of Victor Hugo, and the Cuban battlefield of Antonio Maceo. They followed the debates between anarchists and socialists, as well as the local baseball scores.

Sometimes they laid down their tools—chavetas and books—and walked out of the factories to demand their rights . Through 'la lectura' cigar workers were entertained, educated, and developed a sense of class solidarity. The reader's voice is no longer heard in most places. But in Cuba, cigar makers defend their tradition of 'la lectura' with pride.

Cuban Cigars: Interesting Resources to Learn More

2009-02-18T18:50:00.000-08:00

Check Out This Book

The lector (the reader) de tabaquería is someone whose profession is that of reading newspapers, magazines and literature to cigar makers while they are working. Based on historical and literary texts, this book explores the way in which reading aloud is a link to the past, particularly to pre-industrial times, when reading aloud both in public and private spaces was the rule.

Through meticulous research, the author explains how and why this institution took root in Cuba in 1865 and follows exiles from Cuba’s wars of independence as they resumed reading in cigar factories in Spain, the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. In this seminar, Prof. Tinajero will discuss lectores in Tampa, Fla., and contemporary Cuba.

“Este libro es una de las contribuciones más importantes y oportunas al conocimiento de la cultura cubana que se han hecho en mucho tiempo, y quedará como un hito en el conocimiento de su historia.” - ROBERTO GONZÁLEZ ECHEVARRÍA, Yale University.

Araceli Tinajero is Assistant Professor of foreign languages and literature at City College of New York, City University of New York. She has written extensively reading practices in the Caribbean, the United States and Spain, and on Asian representations in Latin America. El lector de tabaquería: Historia de una tradición cubana received Honorable Mention from Premio Casa de las Américas in 2006.

To learn about all the steps involved in the Production of Cuban Cigars, visit this Site:

http://www.molinacigar.com/process.htm

For a complete Cigar Dictionary/Encyclopedia, visit this Site:

http://www.updowncigar.com/lowdown/index.cfm?sction=1&lnid=1&tmpid=1

Note of Interest: In 2007 Cuba nominated "lectores de tabaqueria" to UNESCO to be declared one of Humanity's Intangible Heritage events.

See the story from Mexico's La Jornada here:

http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2007/07/02/index.php?section=sociedad&article=048n1soc

January 15, 2009 CUBAN CULTURAL NIGHT / NOCHE CULTURAL CUBANA

2009-01-11T20:49:00.000-08:00

"Everything You Always Wanted

to Know About Cuban Cocktails"

The Big Three: Mojito, Daiquiri, Cuba Libre

Demonstration and Hands-on Participation Workshop!!

Taller Participativo

(Usted puede tratar su mano a ser el cantinero/ la cantinera)

Roll up your sleeves and try your hand at mixing, serving, tasting, and learning the stories behind Cuba's most famous drinks

Thursday, January 15, 2009

6:30 PM

(Program begins at 7PM sharp!)

As always.....

Music by Duo Libre (Yasel y Alejandro)

Delicious Cuban Food

(Food $ 5)

The Little Chapel

University of Arizona

(corner of First Street and Highland)

From Speedway, enter Cherry onto UA campus, from Cherry, take 1st street (one way only), pass Vine, before reaching Highland you'll see parking lot on the right for Little Chapel.

Los Tres Grandes (Cockteles Cubanos)

2009-01-10T16:07:00.000-08:00

First off, the "mojito."

Click here to see a video of how to make a mojito (from About.com)

(notice that this recipe recommends the making of a "paste" (not everyone would like this approach, but....sure, why not? It's one way to make it)

For the very popular Bacardi mojito site and beat, go here.

There's a lot of information on the web on "mojitos." We like this article that appeared in The Los Angeles Times back in 2001 (click here).

Next, the "daiquiri."

Here's an excellent collection of historic images and information from a Blog called "Tales of the Cocktail." We enjoyed reading this material and hope you do too (click here).

And last, but not least, we present the "Cuba Libre."

Yes, that's your basic rum, cola, and splash of lime.

Here's a basic recipe from the site Drinks Mixer (most interesting of all, see all the comments people have written in....many variations, para todos los gustos...)

Dec 11/08: Cuban Cultural Night

2008-12-07T15:49:00.000-08:00

Our December Meeting /

Nuestra Reunión en Diciembre
Thursday, December 11, 2008 6:30 PM

Lecture/Presentación:

"Las llamadas religiones sincréticas de origen africano en Cuba"

"The so-called syncretic religions of African origin in Cuba"

by Regla Albarrán-Miller

Deliciosa Comida Típica Cubana de Fin de Año / Delicious Cuban Food

MUSIC: Descarga Musical con "LIBRE" (Yasel, Alejandro e Invitados Especiales)
New Year's Toast Cuban Style / Brindis con Ron por el 2009

Donation: $5

Location / Lugar:

The Little Chapel @ The University of Arizona

Direcciones para llegar a Little Chapel: La Calle Primera se puede acceder desde Campbell (es la calle que está al lado del Wendy's que está en Campbell y Speedway). También se puede acceder desde Speedway entrando por Cherry. Little Chapel también se conoce como McCormick Building; es un edificio chiquito con un área de estacionamiento adjunto.

Directions to Little Chapel: First Street can be entered from Campbell (is the street adjacent to the Wendy's on Campbell and Speedway). It can also be reached from Speedway by way of Cherry. The Little Chapel is also known as the McCormick Building; it is a small building with an adjacent small parking lot.

What is Syncretism?

As defined by the American Heritage Dictionary is the reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief. This is most evident in the areas of philosophy and religion, and usually results in a new teaching or belief system.

See this article in English by a practitioner of Cuban-style syncretic religious practices: (Pichardo)

Ver este Blog con comentarios sobre el sincretismo en Cuba (Caleidoscopio)

Below: Video of an actual celebration (bembé) for San Lázaro (Babalú Ayé) in Santiago, Cuba

2008-10-18T11:12:00.001-07:00

Hola Amigos /

Hello Friends....

Les invitamos a pasar un buen rato, comer buena comida cubana, y ayudarnos a fomentar este emergente proyecto: participen en la primera reunión de lo que esperamos sea un evento mensual......"Noche Cultural Cubana".....

We invite you to have a good time, enjoy delicious Cuban food, and help us launch this new project: attend the first of what we hope will be ongoing monthly...."Cuban Cultural Nights"....

Jueves / Thursday NOV 13, 2008

6:30PM

@ The Little Chapel /University of Arizona

(see directions below / ver direcciones abajo)

Admission (food included): $ 5

Programa Cultural / Cultural Program:

La premiere presentación en Tucson de

** Libre**

(Yasel y Alejandro)

Yasel Mendoza Patterson y Alejandro Ochoa de Miguel fueron integrantes del Cuarteto Alma (Holguín, Cuba) y ganadores del premio CubaDisco en la categoría Música Vocal con el CD “Camina Fino.” Residen en Tucson, Arizona desde Enero 2008. Alejandro es graduado en Guitarra del Conservatorio de Música Jose Maria Ochoa (Holguín) y Yasel es graduado en Canto Lírico del Instituto Superior del Arte (Habana). Sus más recientes participaciones incluyen el Festival de las Rosas en Michoacán, Mexico y el Festival Ortiz Tirado en Alamos, Sonora. Su estilo musical incluye sus propias composiciones y un amplio repertorio desde la canción latinoamericana al bolero, la trova, y la música tradicional/popular cubana.

Yasel Mendoza Patterson y Alejandro Ochoa de Miguel were members until 2007 of the Alma Quartet, a highly regarded a capella ensemble in their native Cuba. The group received the award for Best Vocals form CubaDisco for its CD “Camina Fino.” They reside in Tucson, Arizona since January 2008. Alejandro is a graduate in Guitar from the Music Conservatory Jose Maria Ochoa in Holguin, Cuba. Yasel graduated with a degree in Lyrical Vocalization from the Institute for the Arts in Habana. Their most recent public presentations include the Festival de las Rosas in Michoacan, Mexico and the Festival Ortiz Tirado in Alamos, Sonora. Their musical style includes many of their original compositions as well as a wide repertoire covering Latin American Song, Boleros, the New Song Movement or “Trova,” and elements of Cuban traditional and popular music.

Comida / Food

*Bocaditos de Carne de Puerco y Chicharritas

(Roasted Pork Small Sandwiches and Plantain Chips)

*Polvorones

(Cuban sugar cookies)

*Tropical Drinks (non-alcoholic)

After dinner and music..... Stay with Us to Watch the Film/Documentary by

Wim Wenders:

Después de la comida y la música , quédense con nosotros para ver la película/documental del director Alemán Wim Wenders:

Música Cubana: The Sons of Cuba

--- Mayito Rivera, Osdalgia, Telmary, Chiki Chaka Girls, Pio Leiva, Cesar Pupy Pedroso y Los que Son Son ---

(see trailer below)

Direcciones para llegar a Little Chapel: La Calle Primera se puede acceder desde Campbell (es la calle que está al lado del Wendy's que está en Campbell y Speedway). También se puede acceder desde Speedway entrando por Cherry. Little Chapel también se conoce como McCormick Building; es un edificio chiquito con un área de estacionamiento adjunto.

Ver este Enlace para mas información: Little Chapel

Directions to Little Chapel: First Street can be entered from Campbell (is the street adjacent to the Wendy's on Campbell and Speedway). It can also be reached from Speedway by way of Cherry. The Little Chapel is also known as the McCormick Building; it is a small building with an adjacent small parking lot. Go to this Link for more information: Little Chapel

Trailer for Film "Música Cubana"

2008-10-16T10:17:00.000-07:00