DC Casineros/All Stars Trip to Cuba 2016

Changui Dance at Guantanamo's Casa de la Trova: Yaimara y Winter

As part of our trip to Santiago de Cuba we had the opportunity to stop by Guantamo and check out their Cultural patrimony the Changui music and dance!

Changüí is a style of Cuban music which originated in the early 19th century in the eastern region of Guantánamo Province, specifically Baracoa. Changüí combines the structure and elements of Spain's canción and the Spanish guitar with African rhythms and percussion instruments of Bantu origin. Changüí is considered a predecessor of son montuno and is related to the other regional genres of nengón and kiribá and is descended from nengón. The changüi ensemble consists of: marímbula, bongos, tres, güiro (or guayo) and one or more singers Changüi does not use the Cuban key pattern (or guide pattern) known as clave. Changui is danced in closed position (Posicion social de baile cerrada) and contains intricate and complex footwork! Check out this wonderful professional Changui dance couple!