Cuban history as told in dance steps

Friday, February 27, 2004

By Bob Hoover, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

That would have been the real story, according to the creators of "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights."

	'Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights' Rating: PG-13 for heavy breathing, butt shaking and pelvic thrusting Starring: Sela Ward, Patrick Swayze Director: Guy Ferland

Yes, to find the truth about the rise of Fidel Castro, the Bay of Pigs debacle and the Cuban missile crisis, just blame it on the bossa nova -- or whatever you call the dancing in this movie.

After all, in Hollywood, life is always about winning the big one. Here, it's the $5,000 dance contest at a Havana nightclub New Year's Eve 1958. For those who care about the facts, the next day, Cuba was Batista-free, paving the way for Castro's forces.

Havana teen and dancing fool Javier (Diego Luna) can use the money to get his family to America, and Katey (Romola Garai), a blond, blue-eyed Yanqui, wants to help, even if it means learning hot dance moves to win over the judges while keeping her newly found libido a secret from the folks.

She's in town because Dad (John Slattery) works for an American corporation exploiting the oppressed Cubans. Between tennis lessons, Mom (Sela Ward) encourages Katey to date the boss's son, "Illegal Use of Hands" Jimmy (Jonathan Jackson), who confines his moves to his snazzy 1950s roadster.

But Katey digs Latin lovers, causing all kinds of social unrest that includes a face slap from Mom as Dad looks on stupidly.

Helping Katey unlock her inner Carmen Miranda is "Dirty Dancing" vet Patrick Swayze, in a cameo role as a hotel dance instructor with more moves than Crazy Legs Hirsch and more wrinkles than Everett Dirkson.

Further confusing things is a soundtrack laying 2004-style music on 1958 scenes, as if the real Cuban sounds weren't good enough.

Buena Vista Social Club, si, "Havana Nights," no.

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