Havana Habibi
55min
A documentary by Joshua Bee Alafia

In 2003, Tiffany Madera aka Hanan, enraged her Cuban family in Miami by getting on a plane to Havana to participate in an artistic exchange that led to the formation of Cubas first Arabic dance troupe; Grupo Aisha Al-Hanan. The troupe founded by hanan was composed of eight women at the University of Havanas History Department. A live band of musicians shortly followed from Havanas colorful and diverse music scene. Guided by hanan, Grupo Aisha Al Hanan; quickly gained notoriety around Cuba despite its departure from State- Sanctioned Culture and Art models. A grassroots cultural movement ensued which had a profound impact on many lives across the globe.

For Hanans family, her returning to Cuba was like an act of support for the Communist Revolution that drove them from their island to Miami. Havana Habibi begins three years later following Hanans visit to Havana for the International Dance Festival and workshops with Grupo Aisha Al-Hanan. We meet the ensemble and see the sacrifices they make to create their art. Ana has to take a two hour commute to get to the rehearsals, Aissa battles financial straits and must forgo a bigger paycheck dancing cabaret salsa to dance with Aisha, and Hanan confronts personal demons, crumbling health and family dissonance to teach in Havana. We hear how bellydance has impacted the dancers and musicians lives and empowered them as people. Havana Habibi looks at the cross cultural exchange and intermigration between Africa, Cuba, Spain and the USA; what it means to be a Cuban Bellydancer in Revolutionary Cuba as well as the Cuban Diaspora and travels throughout time, geography and space to tell the human story behind Revolution and geo-political Identity through the sensual metaphor of Bellydance.

Havana Habibi is a collaboration between Beeloved Creations and Hanan Arts Cooperative. We have been producing the documentary with our own cash and funds raised in fundraisers. We are currently shopping a 22min teaser to gain support from a producer to come in and help us finish photography as some members of the group have moved from Havana. We estimate another 50,000 are needed to bring the film to completion.