A group of children from Holguín is taking social media by storm with their performance of Rico vacilón (also known as Qué rico vacilón), a classic cha-cha-chá by the musician and composer Rosendo Ruiz Quevedo (1918-2009). The little ones transformed the entrance of a house into a stage and received praise from Cubans both on the island and abroad.
The video, published this Sunday by the page Facebook Holguín in photos, features a group of young violinists performing the piece effortlessly on the porch of a house. At the end, the children shout in unison "cha cha chá!", an spontaneous conclusion that enhanced the charm of the performance.
The children study at the Raúl Gómez García Elementary School of Art, founded in 1979. The violin training consists of eight years of study, and the teachers Ana Cecilia Bahr Ulloa and Bárbara Cabreja Padilla lead the violin and viola department at the center.
The author of the publication himself emphasized the work of both teachers in the comments. "It is an immense pride for the Raúl Gómez García Elementary School of Art and for Holguin culture to have teachers Ana Cecilia Bahr Ulloa and Bárbara Cabreja Padilla. In them, we truly see what it means to be a real teacher, who speak little but demonstrate a lot," he wrote.
Reactions celebrated the talent of the children and the value of a scene that provided a breath of fresh air amid the daily challenges of the country. "Holguín is magical. Despite the hardships, the shortages, and the trash, you encounter this wonder," commented a follower. Another summed up her excitement in a brief phrase: "Wow, it’s great to see at least one nice piece of news from my country."
The performance also awakened memories of the cultural life of the city. One user recalled the Sunday concerts of the Concert Band and the performances of the Holguín Symphony Orchestra, while others celebrated the continuity of a musical tradition that includes the Hermanos Avilés Orchestra, regarded as the oldest ensemble in Cuba, founded in October 1882.
Among the comments, there was also concern about the difficulties faced in the manufacturing of musical instruments on the island. A user who identified himself as a violin maker expressed regret over the closure of the factory in Minas, Camagüey, stating that he can no longer practice his profession. The plant, inaugurated in 1976 and historically described as the only one of its kind in Latin America, had only produced 15 professional violins per year in 2016 before closing permanently.
The praise extended to those who keep artistic education alive despite the challenges. "Many congratulations to those children and my great admiration for the person in charge, who, amid so many difficulties, rises up, teaches, and leads the group," wrote another supporter.
From the diaspora, expressions of affection also arrived. Users located in Louisville, Kentucky, and Houston, Texas, joined the reactions to a performance that connected Cubans through music and shared memories.
"Precious, there is always room for art," concluded one of the people who followed the performance of the young artists from Holguín.
This type of videos featuring Cuban child musical talents has garnered significant attention on social media this year, serving as an emotional counterbalance to news of the crisis.
Also in August, a young Cuban amazed everyone with his talent by playing guitar, percussion, and singing at the same time, in another video that went viral.
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