The center of the cultural confluences of the city, Agramonte Park, brought us together again like that July 7th, 14 years ago, Elegía Camagüeyana and conga, opened the revelry, this time to remember the joy and pride that UNESCO left us , by including a segment of our Historic Center, in the list of cultural heritage of humanity.
Maestro Reynaldo Hechemendía, director of the Camagüey Folkloric Ballet, summoned congas and comparsas from the city and, as back then, neighbors and passers-by joined to play their drums around the park and join in the celebration.
The Provincial Concert Band, from its favorite stage, with its usual elegance, gave several Cuban repertoires, among which was the “Amorosa Guajira” by the Camagüeyan composer Jorge González Allué.
There was also poetry
The voice of the National Poet, Nicolás Guillén, returned to the pleasant region in vibrant tones, to remind us how much he missed his homeland, how much he loved it from its alleys and squares and how he remembered the examples of his father, who never abandoned his love for his country nor its principles.
The legacy of so many absent Camagüeyans is honored from this patrimonial condition, for which we all must continue working, since it is not permanent and the degradation of the values that led it to receive the award, can cause it to be lost.
Flashes of Camagüeyanity
The children of the Arlequín Artistic Ensemble stole everyone’s attention, because with ease and originality, they danced from the traditional, to give us a beautiful sample of the elegant couple dances, so popular at the beginning of the last century. Their grace and virtuosity showed the result of this beautiful work of a dance project, which brings children closer to cultural richness.
Cultural confluences
The Camagüey Folkloric Ballet also brought a varied repertoire to the park, going through the traditional, the elegant and refined, and left the mambo, chachachá and conga for the closing.
Its various touches settled a commitment to San Pedro, who on June 29th did not have the usual burial ceremony, since the festivity was postponed by greater forces, but… so as not to continue indebted to the divine, there were songs, dances and drums, finally and to bless the funeral, a downpour fell like every day dedicated to the saint.
According to the comments of some present, the rain for this grand finale, augurs a new five years with the historic center preserved and within the list that exalts its values for the world.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
