Slide over salsa: Okay-pop takes socialist Cuba by storm

HAVANA, Cuba –

Socialist Cuba, the birthplace of salsa and different rhythms which have conquered the world, is now surrendering to the invasion of South Korean pop music.

13 thousand kilometres of distance separate the Asian nation and the communist-run island, in addition to a unique language and cultural traditions. Nonetheless, all of those limitations would appear to fade in a break up second due to Okay-pop’s infectious beat and elaborate choreography.

Korean standard music, or Okay-pop, has unfold far and large from its Asian roots as boy bands like BTS and NCT and their feminine counterpart Blackpink rival Taylor Swift for downloads and album gross sales globally.

Nevertheless it was gradual to catch on in Cuba, the place salsa is king and web speeds had been glacial till just lately.

On Saturday, removed from Seoul, dozens of youngsters clad in plaid, prep college skirts, dishevelled bomber pants and heavy black eyeliner busted their greatest strikes as pictures of the style’s idols had been projected on a big display of a Havana dance membership.

“Okay-pop has opened a brand new world to me,” stated 24-year-old Fransico Piedra, who when not working along with his father as a blacksmith goals up meticulous dance steps. Identified by his inventive identify Ken he in the future aspires to be knowledgeable Okay-pop choreographer. “It is a spot the place I might be myself, and share with buddies the enjoyment of laughter, music and dance.”

Most of the youngsters hope to observe within the footsteps of two Cuban teams — Limitless and LTX — that earlier than the pandemic traveled to South Korea to partake within the Okay-POP World Competition, an annual expertise competitors.

Okay-pop — a catch all for musical types starting from R&B to rock — first penetrated the island when Cubans fell in love with South Korean cleaning soap operas a few decade in the past. As web speeds improved, and authorities controls eased, extra younger Cubans obtained on-line and began streaming movies like youngsters all over the place.

Whereas Cuban youngsters could also be mesmerized by Okay-pop, an older technology of leaders have had frostier ties to South Korea. The 2 nations solely restored diplomatic relations that had been severed following the 1959 Cuban revolution this yr and have but to trade ambassadors. In the meantime, Cuba stays a staunch ally of North Korea, which views Okay-pop as a harmful type of propaganda from a capitalist enemy with whom is has been locked in a army standoff because the Nineteen Fifties.