| When we hear the phrase "Havana nights," most of us think of the festive Cuban city, its legendary nightclubs and its intoxicating soundtrack of mambo, rumba, Afro-fusion and cha-cha-cha.
This weekend, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks is bringing Calgary a taste of Havana after dark with its second annual Possessed fundraiser.
Possessed: Havana Nights takes place on Saturday, February 26 at MacEwan Hall and promises to be a steamy night of live music by ¡Bomba! and World Wide Vibe. The Cuban theme is inspired by ¡BULLA!, Decidedly Jazz's new touring production that brings together dancers and musicians from Canada and Cuba. It looks to be a far cry from DJD’s former fundraiser, the formal Black and White Ball.
"We loved that in the early years of the Black and White Ball people dressed in outrageous costumes, but over the years it got more glamorous and almost duller," says DJD marketing consultant Helen Moore-Parkhouse.
With Possessed, DJD is encouraging people to get back to dressing in a more self-expressive way. "For this year with the Havana Nights theme we want people to dress the way they would for a Saturday night at a Havana club," says Moore-Parkhouse.
So if you were going to "do it up big" in Havana, what would you wear? Definitely something sexy, fun, free moving and dramatic. Here is where you let your imagination take control – but if you need a little help in the inspiration department, rent the movie Mambo Kings starring Armande Assante and Antonio Banderas. The film focuses on two musician brothers who flee 1950s Cuba for New York to make a name for themselves. It’s a stylish flick that will give you an idea of the look and sound of pre-revolutionary Cuba, including the fashions of both the rich and the poor.
Before Night Falls, starring Javier Bardem and Johnny Depp, is darker fare but also has some stylish Havana night scenes set in the 1960s, which will give you an idea of the fashions at the time. For a sense of contemporary Havana and its music, check out Wim Wenders’s Buena Vista Social Club.
These three films not only show off classic Cuban fashions, but also capture their role in enhancing movement when dancing or performing. The overall looks here are slick, suave and sophisticated.
If you feel vintage apparel is still too formal, or it’s simply not your thing, then this may be the time to check out the spring fashions.
This season is all about colour, pattern, excitement, full silhouettes and dramatic accessories. Just pick up one of your favourite magazines for inspiration, or visit your shop of choice and pitch the idea to the sales associate, and he or she will help you put together an ensemble for a night of serious fun.
Party favourites for women include: full skirts, skirts and dresses with ruffles, wrap dresses, ruffled tops and sexy strappy tops. Accessorize with fishnet stockings and feather boas, pile on the bangles and the oversized beads. Round-toe shoes or wedged heels will help you dance all night with comfort and ease.
For the guys: button-down shirts in bold stripes, strong patterns or bright colours; vintage tuxedo shirts with ruffles; black, white or light tan pants, and the guayabera – the classic Cuban-Mexican four-pocket wedding shirt.
Accessorize with a fedora or boldly printed tie. Two-toned spectator shoes or this season's white leather shoes will make a strong statement on the dance floor.
For more info on the Havana Nights fundraiser, go to www.getpossessed.com or call the DJD box office at 245—3533.
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