Guaracheros de Regla
Encyclopedia
Guaracheros de Regla was the name of a carnival
comparsa
of Havana
, Cuba
. Created by Humberto Medina, known as the Guarachero Mayor. The group started in 1959 in Regla and in 1960 were invited to the Havana carnivals. One of the top dance groups during the 1960s. As was the traditional custom, they started in La Punta on the Malecón
and danced southward on Prado Avenue to circle in front of the Capitol
, where the judges would assess their mastery in the competition.
Guaracheros de Regla were an extremely accomplished "comparsa" (dance group), usually winning the top honor in the comparsa contest taking place every year at the Havana carnival. Originally young adults of college age and older made up the body of dancers, but when Raul Castro decided in 1965 to put every male older than 15 years in military service, all of a sudden all the dancers who were able to join the comparsa were barely in their teens.
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
comparsa
Comparsa
A comparsa is the band which plays a conga during a Latin American Carnival celebration. It consists of a large group of dancers dancing and traveling on the streets, followed by a Carrosa where the musicians play...
of Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Created by Humberto Medina, known as the Guarachero Mayor. The group started in 1959 in Regla and in 1960 were invited to the Havana carnivals. One of the top dance groups during the 1960s. As was the traditional custom, they started in La Punta on the Malecón
Malecón, Havana
The Malecón is a broad esplanade, roadway and seawall which stretches for 8 km along the coast in Havana, Cuba, from the mouth of Havana Harbor in Old Havana to Vedado.Construction of the Malecón began in 1901, during temporary U.S. military rule...
and danced southward on Prado Avenue to circle in front of the Capitol
El Capitolio
El Capitolio, or National Capitol Building in Havana, Cuba, was the seat of government in Cuba until after the Cuban Revolution in 1959, and is now home to the Cuban Academy of Sciences. Its design and name recall the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., but it is only superficially similar...
, where the judges would assess their mastery in the competition.
Guaracheros de Regla were an extremely accomplished "comparsa" (dance group), usually winning the top honor in the comparsa contest taking place every year at the Havana carnival. Originally young adults of college age and older made up the body of dancers, but when Raul Castro decided in 1965 to put every male older than 15 years in military service, all of a sudden all the dancers who were able to join the comparsa were barely in their teens.