Hip-hop reaches Cuba - 2nd July 2021

Cuban dance crew Datway is getting noticed in the capital, Havana. They have surprised everyone with their new hip-hop dance style.

Cuba is home to salsa and rumba. There had been little awareness of hip-hop due to the US trade boycott and the strict laws of the country’s Communist Party. Cuba launched the internet in 2015 and mobile internet in 2018. Today, 4.2 million out of its 11 million population are online.

Thanks to Facebook and Instagram, the 16-member company has grown an audience for their dancing, which combines hip-hop with local styles. Datway member Liuven Dopico explains their technique.

Liuven Dopico: "Here we mix hip-hop a lot, urban street dance, we mix it with traditional Cuban music. We combine all that and create something really beautiful."

Interest in their hip-hop style has resulted in sudden stardom. Reggaeton singer Daddy Yankee and Latin pop star Ricky Martin have commented on the group's unique style.

The Puerto Rican and Cuban duo Ozuno and Ovi started an online competition. They were searching for the best choreography for their music video. Datway won $10,000, which goes a long way in Cuba, where salaries average $87.

Ernesto Rodriguez manages the dance company. He explains how they used the prize money.

Ernesto Rodriguez: "We are using technology. We bought a good camera for the group, and from that half of the money – of all that was left – I distributed it among all the members. I also gave money to the children who participated, the ones who passed by in the video, everybody."

The group wants more young people to be involved in their videos. They hope to provide a window into life in Cuba.