The best way I could describe it is an exhilarating and inspirational vibe of exuberant vitality for culture, music and dance. This amazing feeling of liveliness was what I experienced at the Cuban American Cultural Festival 2001. The festival took place in an open space lot called Northrop Grummah at the corner of 120th street and Crenshaw Blvd. People began to gather in celebration of Cuban heritage and culture at early noon and continued to eat and dance until six in the afternoon. The carnival featured the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz as well as the LA Salsa Kids, Yari Moreis band, Timbao, and other musical groups. Complimenting all the music and dancing was an array of traditional Cuban food, which served as the final ingredient to a very successful musical and cultural event.
The weather seemed to agree with the event because it was a beautiful sunny day and it fit perfectly with the feeling that surrounded the atmosphere. As soon as I got there I could feel that vibrant energy not only in the music but also in the faces of the people. You could see their enthusiasm and eagerness to dance and to enjoy a wonderful afternoon. Although there was a good mixture of people the main concentration was Latinos from different countries but of course the denser concentration was composed of Cuban Americans. Their joy and pride of being Cuban was manifested in the parading of the Cuban flag through out the crowd as well as the plastering of the Cuban flag on .
t-shirts and what seemed to be traditional straw hats worn by men and women. Along with the straw hats a lot of men also wore the traditional "guavayera" shirt. Though the crowd ranged from children, teenagers, young people, to the elderly they all seemed to interact in great harmony. When a good song came out I observed that people would gather in circles and dance around an alternating person in the center. However it was even more special when an older person or child was in the center.
