Live Performance entertainment in Caribbean Islands
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Tropicana Santiago
Anything Havana can do, Santiago can do better – or at least cheaper. Styled on the Tropicana original, this ‘feathers and baubles’ Las Vegas–style floor show is heavily hyped by all the city’s tour agencies who offer it for CUC$35 plus transport (Havana’s show is twice the price, but no way twice as good). Located out of town, 3km north of the Hotel Las Américas, a taxi or rental car is the only independent transport option, making the tour-agency deals a good bet. The Saturday night show is superior.
reviewed
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A
Cabaret Continental
There’s a coolness to the kitsch at the retro Hotel Internacional, which stages a shamelessly over-the-top Tropicana-style floor show (Tuesday to Sunday) that is, arguably, second only to ‘the one’ (in Havana). Book dinner at 8pm, catch the singers and dancers strutting their stuff, and stay after midnight for the tie-loosening disco. Enquire at your hotel tour desk about advance bookings. This place is popular.
reviewed
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B
Foco Cultural El Tivolí
Carnaval practice for the Sarabanda Mayombe happens weekly at this Tivolí Foco (a show that takes place in Tivolí). Saturdays at 17:00 they perform a mágica religiosa program of orishas (Afro-Cuban religious deity), bembé (Afro-Cuban drumming ritual) and palo monte (Bantu-derived Afro-Cuban religion) at the nearby Casa de las Tradiciones.
reviewed
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Cabaret Cueva del Pirata
A kilometer east of the Hotel Sol Elite Palmeras, Cabaret Cueva del Pirata presents scantily clad dancers in a Cuban-style floor show with a buccaneer twist (eye patches, swashbuckling moves etc). This cabaret is inside a natural cave and once the show is over, the disco begins. Most hotel tour desks can arrange return hotel transfers. It’s a popular place, attracting a young crowd.
reviewed
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C
Luis A Ferré Center for the Performing Arts
Built in 1981 in Santurce, this center has more than 1800 seats in the festival hall, about 700 in the drama hall and 200 in the experimental theater. The three concert halls fill when the Puerto Rican Symphony Orchestra holds one of its weekly winter performances. International stars also perform here, and it stages productions by the Ópera de Puerto Rico and Ballet de San Juan.
reviewed
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Uneac
There are friendly nods as you enter, handshakes offered by people you’ve never even met, while the starry-eyed crooner on stage blows kisses to his girlfriend (s) in the audience. Uneac concerts always feel more like family gatherings than organized cultural events and Sancti Spíritus’ is one of the nicest ‘families’ you’ll meet.
reviewed
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D
Teatro América
Housed in a classic art-deco rascacielo (skyscraper) on Galiano (Av de Italia), the América seems to have changed little since its theatrical heyday in the 1930s and ’40s. It plays host to vaudeville variety, comedy, dance, jazz and salsa; shows are normally staged on Saturdays at 8:30pm and Sundays at 5pm. You can also enquire about dance lessons here.
reviewed
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E
Basílica Menor de San Francisco de Asís
Plaza de San Francisco de Asís’ glorious church, which dates from 1738, has been reincarnated as a 21st-century museum and concert hall. The old nave hosts choral and chamber music two to three times a week (check the schedule at the door) and the acoustics inside are excellent. It’s best to bag your ticket at least a day in advance.
reviewed
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F
Casa de la Cultura Los Corales
A place where the locals still hold sway. You can catch ‘filin’ (feeling) matinees here, where singers pour their heart into Neil Sedaka–style crooning. There are also instructors available for Cuban music; or take dance lessons for around CUC$2 an hour.
reviewed
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G
Casa de la Cultura
This venue does a wide variety of shows including some good rumba incorporating the textbook Cuban styles of guaguancó,yambú and columbia (subgenres of rumba). Go prepared for mucho audience participation.
reviewed
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H
El Benny
It’s difficult to say what the ‘Barbarian of Rhythm’ would have made of this disco/club named in his honor. Bring your dancing shoes, stock up on the rum and Cokes and come prepared for more techno than Benny Moré.
reviewed
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I
Habana Café
Done up like Planet Hollywood meets the Tropicana, this place has a talented floor show followed by disco dancing. Expect the 35 plus set and a preponderance of guayabera shirts.
reviewed
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J
National Arena
Kingston has frequent live stage shows, which are announced on streetside billboards. Top-name artists often perform at the National Arena.
reviewed
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Dover Raceway
South of Runaway Bay, Dover Raceway is the setting for auto and motorcycle races. Races are held once every other month, April to December.
reviewed
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K
Cabaret Taino
This large thatched venue at the west entrance to town has the standard feathers, salsa and pasties show. Cover charge includes a bottle of rum and cola.
reviewed
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L
Casa de la Trova Miguel Angel Luna
For traditional music it’s a dice-roll. Casa de la Trova Miguel Angel Luna has Thursday night regional trovadores.
reviewed
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M
Cabaret Bayamo
Bayamo’s glittery nightclub/cabaret opposite the Hotel Sierra Maestra draws out the locals on weekends in their equally glittery attire.
reviewed
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N
Cabaret Mediterráneo
A professional two-hour show in an open-air location beneath thatched roofs nightly at 10pm. On a good night, it’s worth the money.
reviewed
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O
King & Knights Club
This club offers a Bahamian dance show that includes traditional rake 'n' scrape music, limbo, a fire dance and Junkanoo music.
reviewed
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P
Coral Cliff Gaming Lounge
Over 100 video slot machines, plus a big-screen TV and free drinks, with nightly floor shows, cabarets and/or live jazz.
reviewed
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Q
Orfeón Santiago
This classical choir sometimes allows visitors to attend its practice sessions from 9am to 11:30am Monday to Friday.
reviewed
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R
Cabaret Anfiteatro Varadero
This cabaret has a gala open-air floor show. Used mostly for special occasions, it doesn’t open every week.
reviewed
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S
Cabaret El Patio
This venue has an entertaining floorshow at 11pm. Show up early to get in; official policy is couples only.
reviewed
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T
Cabaret Guanimar
An outdoor club with a show at 11pm; if you want to be in the front rows, it’s CUC$16 for a couple.
reviewed
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U
Casa de la Cultura
Wide-ranging cultural events, including art expos, on the east side of Parque Céspedes.
reviewed
