Bringing Cuba to Castleton

CAB and SGA hold Cuban Pub Night in the 1787 room on March 26.
Sara Novenstern / Castleton Contributor

The seven-piece Cuban band played traditional tunes as the dancers floated across the floor and invited the students, faculty and community members to join them.

Some attendants of Castleton’s Cuban Pub Night held beers while others sat at tables, nodding along to the music, painfully aware of the “underage” bracelets on their wrists.

The fun event was put-on by SGA, CAB, the Spanish Club and the Teaching and Scholarship Committee to raise money for the 34 people going on the Cuban Immersion: History, Culture and Music trip to Havana, May 11-18.

The Cuban band De Lomas y Sones, which translates to “Of Hills and Songs,” added to the atmosphere, bringing a little bit of Cuba to Vermont.

“The band is fantastic,” said Chris Manjuck, a sophomore going on the trip in May. “I hope it’s even better in Cuba.”

Sophomore Bekah Jensen, another student headed to Cuba, agrees that this is a good introduction to their upcoming international experience.

“I think it’s a good kick-off to get excited and to get the community involved,” Jensen said. “It’s a glimpse of what Cuba’s really like.”

Besides the bar and traditional Cuban food, another fun aspect of the evening was the pair of professional dancers who offered a salsa class before the real party began.

The couple spun around the dance floor, and even invited a few students who had attended the class to join them before the rest of the audience was encouraged to dance along.

Manjuck danced with the female dancer and had a fantastic time.

“She’s pretty, she can dance well and I even made eye contact!” Manjuck said.

It was a fun night for students not going on the trip as well.

Junior Peter Kazakis liked the pub-night experience and how you could walk over to the campus center to get a beer for 3 or 4 bucks. He enjoyed seeing some of his favorite professors up on the dance floor.

“It was definitely a fun and safe way to have a drink, a dance and a laugh with friends and professors,” Kazakis said.

The entertaining night even made some students envious of those going on the trip.

“It was fun. I’m really excited for all the students that are getting the chance to go to Cuba,” said Junior Mariah O’Hara. “I wanna go!”

 

 

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