Havana Habibi

A bold and personal look at a Cuban American’s journey to bring bellydancing to Cuba as a way to bridge the divide and come to terms with her own healing.

–  Art Reception curated by Susan Caraballo/ArtCenter South Florida , and Q&A with Tiffany Madera and Director Joshua Bee Alafia.

–  Lissette Mendez, director of programs at Miami Book Fair, will be moderating the discussion.

In 2003, Tiffany Madera aka “hanan,” enraged her Cuban family in Miami by getting on a plane to Havana to lead an artistic exchange that led to the formation of Cuba’s first Arabic bellydancing troupe; Grupo Aisha Al-hanan. The troupe founded by hanan was composed of eight women at the University of Havana’s history department. For hanan’s family, her returning to Cuba was a slap in the face and an act of support for the Communist Revolution that drove them from their island to Miami. While hanan confronts personal demons, crumbling health and family dissonance, Grupo Aisha Al hanan; quickly gained notoriety around Cuba despite her family conflicts and Cuba’s strict State- Sanctioned Culture and Art models. A grassroots cultural movement ensued.