Creole Choir of Cuba photo
On Monday, March 4, The Firehouse Cultural Center will provide south county residents with a truly unique opportunity. The Creole Choir of Cuba, a world-renowned choir of 10 members from Cuba’s third largest city, will make an appearance at the center, fresh off a performance the day before at the Straz Center in Tampa.
To make an already unique event even more so, tickets for the concert and a question and answer session with the choir are free, compliments of the Firehouse Cultural Center partnership with the Patel Conservatory at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. During the performance, which will take place from 3 to 4 p.m., the choir will take questions from the audience focusing on music, history, art and culture in Cuba and Haiti. It should be noted that the choir does not answer questions of a political nature.
The choir was founded in Camagüey, Cuba in 1994 during a period of transition in one of America’s closest yet in many ways, most remote neighbor. During that time, with the end of Soviet support of the island nation, food was scarce and even electricity was often lacking. The choir formed and began singing songs in Creole, Cuba’s second language, of the struggles of their parents, grandparents and ancestors. Five female and five male singers make up the choir and have gained worldwide fame, which is only increasing with their current tour of the United States. The choir describes their music as being filled with vitality, humor and compassion, telling stories of heroes, ghosts, homesickness and survival.
The choir’s stop at the Firehouse Cultural Center is one of very few venues in which tickets are complimentary, giving south county residents a rare opportunity to participate in this unusual tour and to experience the remarkable talent of the ensemble.
Seating is limited and reservations are required to attend. For tickets, call or leave a message at 813-645-6751 or email the Firehouse Cultural Center at firehousecultural@gmail.com. You may also stop by the cultural center Monday through Thursday during the hours of 9 to 11:30 a.m. The center is located at 101 1st Ave NE in Ruskin, just off the intersection of Shell Point Road and U.S. Highway 41.
The Creole Choir of Cuba performance will kick off a month of weekly programs at the cultural center, all sponsored by the Patel Conservatory and the Straz Center. The schedule of events includes everything from programs for young children to adults. The programs are free of charge but many require advance registration due to limited seating.
The Firehouse Cultural Center has recently completed a project in which the main theater is now fully air-conditioned.
For more information, stop by the center during office hours or visit their website at www.firehouseculturalcenter.org.
