Vietnam - Cuba cultural exchange held in Cuba

The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in Havana , Cuba , and the
Federation of University Students (FEU) on December 9 held a cultural
exchange to mark the 50 th anniversary of Vietnamese-Cuban diplomatic
ties (December 2, 1960 – December 2, 2010) .

Attending the event were the vice rector of Havana University Cristina
Diaz Lopez, representatives from the Cuban Ministry of Universities, the
Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cuban Institute for
Friendship with the People (ICAP).

During the event,
Vietnamese and Cuban students performed variety of songs and dances as
well as traditional dances from both nations.

The
Vietnamese students put on a display of many fine arts and hand-made
products such as embroidered pictures, lacquered flower vases and silk
flowers. They also organised a small photos exhibition on the friendly
and close relationship and traditional links between Vietnam and
Cuba .

The event helped to strengthen the mutual
understanding between Vietnamese and Cuban youngsters as well as
consolidate friendship and solidarity between the two nations./.

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Cuban ballet dancers set to dazzle in Hanoi

The Cuban Ballet Rakatan dancers are set to enthrall audiences in
Hanoi on Oct. 21 night with their repertoire of Latin American dances.

The performance tour features 19 dancers who arrived in Hanoi on Oct. 18.

The dancers will perform nine dances including the bolero, son,
guaracha, cha cha cha, manteca , rumba, and salsa styles. A
mambo-jazz dance will open the show featuring music by composers Chano
Pozo and Dizzie Gillespie.

Founded in 2001 by dancer
and choreographer Nilda Guerra, Ballet Rakatan is regarded as one of
the most talented and versatile groups of dancers to emerge from Cuba
in many years.

They have performed throughout
Cuba in some of the countries most prestigious venues and events,
including the Playa Municipal Theatre, the Havana Street Festival, and
the National Theatre of Cuba as well as performing five televised summer
seasons in Havana in 2006.

Most of the dancers
are graduates of the renowned Escuela Nacional de Arte de la Habana,
combining contemporary dance training with every aspect of Cuban dance
and Latin styles; including classic, folklore, popular, salsa and
flamenco.

It was the first Cuban group to perform at the World Salsa Congress in Zurich , Switzerland .

Ballet Rakatan's 2006 performances at the Edinburgh Festival received
the Five Star Award, and were the most talked-about and press-covered
company at the festival.

During summer 2007 they performed a five-week run at London 's West End Peacock Theatre.

After their performance in the city's Opera House, the dancers will
perform in Hai Phong City and Thai Nguyen province on Oct. 22
and 23 at 8pm and 7.30pm, respectively./.

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