The Hindu : International : Cuban troupe in mass defection

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004

International

International

Cuban troupe in mass defection

New York: Members of a theatrical production staged the largest mass defection of Cuban performers to date on Monday as 43 cast members of the Havana Night Club applied for political asylum at a U.S. Federal court in Las Vegas. ``Art should have no boundaries,'' Nicole `ND' Durr, the company's founder, told Associated Press. ``My artists stood up in one voice and said they want to go. We want to dance. We want to continue to dance.'' Three members have decided to return to Cuba. ``The only thing we regret is that our families in Cuba may suffer,'' Puro Hernandez (31), the musical director, told the New York Times. ``But the Cuban Government left us no choice — they put us between the sword and a wall.'' Ms. Durr, a German, said when the show's members decided to perform in Las Vegas the Cuban Government threatened to make life unpleasant. She claimed Cuban officials had raided their offices in Havana and confiscated $250,000 worth of instruments and equipment and that she was arrested, questioned and given 24 hours to leave Cuba. The performers said they had decided to stay in the U.S. after the authorities told them they could be jailed or barred from performing in Cuba. Ariel Machado (33), the manager, said they decided to defect after Cuba threatened them with prison or with preventing them from working again.

— © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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