Adventures in Havana by Chen Lizra

Where do I even begin... There is so much to tell and so little time to tell it because I'd rather be living it rather than sitting for an hour waiting for a slow internet connection that costs a fortune... But at the same time, I wish everyone could hear about the great things that are going on here..

I am in love.. it was love at first site! Orisha dancing... yes yes yes.. not a man but dancing.. I started working on Orisha dancing and some other cool things that I plan to bring back.. some new courses that I am developing and some plans to change programs drastically..

When I train in dance, I can see where I am at in life.. to train well.. I have to let go.. it's like free falling. I started my training on Monday, first two days only 3 hours a day and tomorrow I hope to start training in the afternoon as well. Something has changed for me and with me.. I am so much more relaxed. Yeri and Israel joke about it because Cubans believe that you need Cuchi Cuchi (= sex) to relax your body (which is, by the way, true.. when you have sex, you dance better because your muscles are more relaxed). But their joke is: so you are so relaxed and not even because of a man.. ha ha ha..

But seriously now, something has changed in my life which is heading in such a great direction and so many great things are happening that all I have to do is relax, sit back and enjoy the ride. I will get there for sure!

It's a feeling that I never had before in life, that feels so great. And because of that my dancing is different.. I am not afraid to explore places inside myself that I have never seen before.. and when I let go and my body relaxes, I can grasp things so much faster. Everyone noticed it. Yeri, Israel and other friends who have seen me train over the years, tell me this. But I also feel it. Learning Orisha dances is hard and on the last trip (a year ago), I had a hard time finding the softness that they require from my body. But this time around, I am learning things that took me 4 days in a day. It's amazing. I feel on top of the world.

One of my students arrived yesterday and I've been walking on the streets of Havana with her, explaining how things work and getting her in. Oh my god, the house that I arranged for her.. I've never seen a casa like this before.. I took pictures because I figured people wouldn't believe me.. it doesn't look like Cuba at all with a stunning terrace and all marble floors...

Christy's Casa Particular

The Terrace

Christy on the terrace

Me on the terrace

So today she started classes as well, and we hung out at the pool in the afternoon... yes the tan is starting to look right. Then went out to tour the city and jumped from one local bar to the other where they have live bands playing. She was in heaven.. I think I drank something like 5 Mojitos in total the whole day from around 3M.. whoohoo.. seriously.. life couldn't be better.. training in the morning, then having fun at night.. Havana is a real dancing heaven.

So many great stories.. I was learning today how to dance Yemeya and Eleggua.. both Orishas have such different emotions.. one is danced very physical and one is soft like the waves of the water.. Yeri was explaining to me the way the music is structured. Each Orisha combination has a name (a Toke) and the singer calls it out when the change comes so you really have to pay attention to the singer (Yoruba language) to know when to change steps. My upper body just felt the Tambor (= drum) in a way that I never felt before and it was like it wasn't me dancing, like someone took over my body and all I could hear is Yeri in the background saying: Mira! Mira! (= Look! Look!) to Israel because it was so it. And I could feel it. And all I can explain beyond that is that I was filled with such joy and happiness that if I died at that moment I'd be content. Really. Such a magical moment.

After the Orishas we were doing Despelote (= Reggaeton) and I've been learning some really cool moves that have a mix of different body parts doing different actions, different timing for each. Again, things that have been so hard for me in the past are just coming so much faster.. like I broke a wall without noticing and the crazy thing is that I didn't break it.. it got melted with softness. So I decided to bring a lot more seductive and playful things back this time in celebration of this fun. And for all of my students that are following.. wait till Sept.. some great surprises are yet to come..

Besides that, it's been a few years since I started traveling back and forth to Cuba and this time when I landed, all of my friends and families have started having "talks" with me: "You should find yourself a good Cuban man... you are like a Cuban woman, very similar to us.." Seriously, the first weekend, suddenly, all the potentials were around.. And me.. I am not looking for a Cuban Novio (= boyfriend).. I just want to dance.. and dance and dance... I come here because I love dancing so much, because I want to learn more and to grow as a dancer and let go and to free fall.. it's the best feeling in the world. And having a Cuban Novio is a complex thing.

Oh yes and there have been some interesting thunder storms with intense lightning and all.. I went downstairs and watched this boy as he was running from the street and onto the pavement and sliding all the way across from one side to the other.. and there was a boy who just spilled water from the street onto the pavement to make him slide better.. I filmed it because it was so cool. I'll post it here when I am back..

Boy getting ready to slide from middle of road

Getting water to spill on pavement

Sliding on the pavement

The video of the boy sliding in the water..
Look where he starts running..

And my Spanish is sooooo much better.. everyone been telling me this but I also feel it.. I can explain what I really feel and understand about 70-80% and it makes being here so much better. It's like I live here and lived here for a while. It's really special. And people keep telling me: "You are like a Cuban woman now." I don't really know what changed for me in Cuba.. I just feel in my element.

I don't have time to edit this so I'll just publish it the way it is and hope that it sounds right. And I hope to find time again soon to write some more.. I have so much more to tell.. So much magic.. so many stories..