A social media user recently shared a video showing second-grade children dancing to the popular song "Marca Mandarina" at a school in Havana, sparking a heated debate online.
The video, posted by the Facebook profile Juan Juan AL MEDIO, was accompanied by a brief caption: “End-of-year performance by second-grade students at José María Pérez School in La Lisa.”
In just a few days, the video has garnered over 6,000 reactions, 3,400 comments, and more than 430,000 views. Many users expressed concern that the children should not be dancing in such an obscene manner, particularly within an educational institution. They also pointed out the significant responsibility of parents and families in exposing children to inappropriate genres and themes for their age.
“The lack of values and respect for a child's innocence has crossed the line of disgust in Cuba,” remarked a user named Lucy Sosa La Mulata del Caribe.
Nelkis García Rodríguez commented, “I see young boys and girls singing obscene songs and dancing provocatively. When these second graders are in sixth grade and pregnant at 11, as I have seen, then people will wonder what went wrong. This society is stealing childhood from children and normalizing the unacceptable.”
Magaly Velasco Jordán added, “What can you expect from the children if the teacher is also dancing provocatively? For us teachers from 40 or 50 years ago, doing that would have cost us our jobs.” She criticized the poor quality of Cuban education today.
Another user, Teresita Hernández, said, “Look at this, and the teacher is teaching these children vulgarity. We're lost.”
However, some people argued that a child's way of dancing does not necessarily reflect their future character.
Reinier Hernández González said, “I've been seeing videos like this for years and I don't think it has anything to do with the children's future. I have a neighbor who danced like this or even worse when she was in elementary school and now she's a gold medalist lawyer and the director of a municipal law firm.”
Darel Rochi Robinson added, “I danced provocatively at that age, and today I'm an adult without any trauma.”
This is not the first time videos showcasing behaviors considered objectionable by some have surfaced in Cuban schools and other public institutions.
Controversial Dance Performances in Cuban Schools
Previously, a twerking competition involving minors was held at the zoo in Ciego de Ávila during an anniversary celebration, which also stirred controversy.
The zoo's DJ, named Eddy Martínes, posted on Facebook a video showing three teenagers dancing in front of three seated young people.
Another video shared by Isabel Molina, also from Ciego de Ávila, shows elementary school children (mostly girls) dancing reggaeton at a school event, with an adult speaking into a microphone, encouraging them to move and calling teachers to join in.
These behaviors, as seen in the videos by Martínes and Molina, have become commonplace in Cuban society. Birthday parties, children's celebrations, and recreational activities in schools or other centers are often enlivened with reggaeton music.
A few years ago, a video of young Cuban children "dancing provocatively" also triggered a social media uproar.
Frequently Asked Questions About Children Dancing in Cuban Schools
To provide further insight into this controversial topic, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Why did the video of children dancing "Marca Mandarina" cause such an uproar?
The video caused an uproar because many people believe that the children were dancing in an inappropriate manner for their age, especially within an educational environment. The incident has raised concerns about the influence of certain music genres on young children and the role of parents and educators in guiding them.
What are the main concerns expressed by social media users?
Social media users are mainly concerned about the loss of innocence in children, the normalization of inappropriate behavior, and the potential long-term impact on the children’s development. Many also criticize the role of parents and educators in exposing children to such content.