Over the weekend, Cuba transformed into an enormous outdoor dance floor, breaking both national and world records for the popular Cuban dance style, Rueda de Casino.

In Havana, this massive dance circle or Rueda de Casino took place on May 5 at the city's seafront drive boulevard. Cubans have internationalized the Casino style, born here in the 1950s. Couples danced to the sounds of Son Cubano - a music genre that is part of Cuba's musical identity.

Since last year, Cubans have been rehearsing to perform in a Mega Wheel and in other Cuban cities ahead of the big event, organized and promoted by Cuban cultural institutions and by an international project called "Retaking the San Bailanda Casino" after Venezuela set the last record in 2022.

"The goal of this initiative is to pay homage to Cuban Son and its great interpreters and set a Cuban and world dancing record based on our traditional Casino dancing style for us and for the world," said Luis Llamo, director of Mega-Wheel.

Casino lovers from dance clubs in Latin America, Belgium, and other countries participated, including Chinese dancers and teachers of Cuban salsa.

"I'm now in Havana participating in the world's biggest Casino wheel and I'm so happy to have brought my Cuban salsa dancing students from Beijing to join me in this great event," said Wen Feili, a Chinese participant and dance teacher.

"I've been dancing Casino for nearly a year with the University Casino Club and for me it's very significant to be part of our country's cultural history by participating in such a big project like this one," said Tahyla Rondon, one of the dancers.

The big occasion has arrived. Massive Casino wheels are rocking Havana and other cities, gyrating to the sound of Son Cubano.

Thousands of couples of different ages and from all walks of life are dancing simultaneously in more than 100 Casino rings across all major Cuban cities to set the new record, with the central choreography here in Havana.

Setting the new record required thousands of people dancing at the same time.

After an eight-minute dance, an international jury announced that 2,946 dancers in 142 dance circles had joined in-Cubans set a new World Record for Rueda de Casino, now to be challenged by other nations.

SHOTLIST:

Havana, Cuba - Recent
1. Various of people dancing;
2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish, dubbed in English) Luis Llamo, director, Mega-Wheel:
"The goal of this initiative is to pay homage to Cuban Son and its great interpreters and set a Cuban and world dancing record based on our traditional Casino dancing style for us and for the world.";
3. Various of people enjoying dance;
4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish, dubbed in English) Wen Feili, dance teacher:
"I'm now in Havana participating in the world's biggest Casino wheel and I'm so happy to have brought my Cuban salsa dancing students from Beijing to join me in this great event.";
5. Various of people dancing;
6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish, dubbed in English) Tahyla Rondon, participant:
"I've been dancing Casino for nearly a year with the University Casino Club and for me it's very significant to be part of our country's cultural history by participating in such a big project like this one.";
7. Various of people dancing.

[Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]