Why Cuba Will Always Dance
Although I have never been to Cuba, My parents recently just went. They saw a variety of cultural dancing there, and said it was superb! I have done a Cuban dancing class, along with a salsa class, in my past years, and thought it was so much fun.
The Cuban Culture consist of much passion. It's a sensation that cannot accurately be conveyed in words as dance to Cubans is tantamount to life. People describe Cuban dancing as if it was second nature to breathing.
Dancing began in Cuban even before the arrival of slaves and colonizers in the 17th century. The indigenous people known as Tainos, performed rituals and ceremonies that included dancing, singing, and music. After West African people were brought over as slaves in the 17th century, they had a heavy influence on the rituals in Cuba, such as the Santeria.
The next influential moment came in 1791, which was the start of the Haitian Revolution. The Revolution went all the way until 1804, and during that period many Haitian refugees fled to Cuba and never returned, making Cuba their new home. With them they brought dances that were reflective of their story of revolution and rebellion, these dance are known today in Cuba as Tumba. European influenced them around the 19th century when French brought a style of dancing called contredanse. The African servants would try and mimic this dance and in doing so, created a much more sensual version known today as the Cuban contradanza. The early 20th century was revolutionary in Cuba for many reasons. One of them was the Mambo, a dance that took the nation by storm, and quickly expanded all over the world. The Mambo is just as popular today as it was back then, and is forever considered a part of Cuba's identity. It is said that the cha-cha was created out of necessity because the Americans visiting Cuba couldn't keep up with the Mambo rhythm!
Cuba is an incredible place that is rich in history, culture, and evolution. No matter what the Cuban people may face one thing is for certain, they will most likely never stop dancing!
My Operation Smile Summer Experience
This summer, I spent one unforgettable week at the International Student Leadership Conference with Operation Smile — surrounded by friends from all over the world, learning how helping others can change your life too. Between workshops, team games, and late-night conversations, I discovered that smiling is more than just an expression — it’s a privilege, and one worth sharing.
The Art and Elegance of Geisha Dance
Geisha dancers are like swans lightly touching the water. Their calm, graceful movements were completely different from the styles I’m used to, but just as powerful in how they told stories of love, sorrow, and nature.
Hula Dancing: The Heart of Hawaiian Culture
Hula dancing is like the ocean—it holds history, stories, and emotion all in one. From ancient chants to modern ukuleles, it’s a powerful way Hawaiians share their culture with the world.
SZA, Kendrick, and the Power of Hip-Hop Dance
Watching the dancers at the SZA and Kendrick concert felt just like watching a live version of what we practice in hip-hop class—just way more advanced. I recognized breakdancing, popping, and house, and for the first time, I felt like I could see myself in what was happening on stage.
They Let Me Live in Sound
By Mahika Kapoor, age 14, Virginia.
I wrote this poem with a ten-minute timer to try to capture the frenzied mindset of the narrator in this poem. I wanted to see how fast I could capture the importance of the Holocaust, and how other people felt. I came up with this piece, “They Let me Live in Sound,” showing a child’s mind during the Holocaust, mostly based on the child Ellie Wiesel. Ellie Wiesel wrote the book “Night” to capture his dream of other people understanding the misery of the Holocaust. He will forever be remembered, and so will many other characters from the Holocaust period, such as Anne Frank. Anne had a dream to publish her diary she wrote during her two-year Holocaust hiding. These two historical figures both had dreams of people remembering the Holocaust, and for others to be able to vision how tragic their experience was through forms of writing.
The poem tries to capture how many people may have been feeling during the Holocaust in metaphorical ways.
—Mahika Kapoor, age 14.
Finding Identity Through Dance in Belize
In Belize, dancing is about more than entertainment—it’s about identity. Whether it’s the smooth beats of punta or the storytelling in brukdown, I saw how dance connects to culture, history, and the stories people carry.