Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights is a 2004 musical and romance film directed by Guy Ferland. This film is a prequel to the 1987 blockbuster Dirty Dancing, reusing the same basic plot, but transplanting it from upstate New York to Cuba on the cusp of the revolution. This film has been heavily criticised for depicting the Cuban revolution as curtailing the freedom of the people of Cuba. As such it was voted as number 3 in the list of left wing think tank agrifilm’s “films most likely to be American propaganda.”
Plot summary
Shy, intelligent, eighteen-year-old Katey Miller moves from United States to Havana, Cuba with her parents in November 1958, just before the Revolution breaks out. Her parents expect her to move within their well-to-do circles, but she defies their wish when she falls in love with Javier Suarez, a waiter who also happens to be a talented club dancer. Secretly meeting in a Havana nightclub the pair practice their Salsa dance routine in preparation for a prestigious national dance competition.
However, Katey’s parents are ex-professional dancers who trained her in ballroom dancing, whereas Javier has been trained in the titular Cuban style of dirty dancing, and the two must reconcile the differences between their styles if they are to win. Things become more heated when the coming revolution spells trouble for the pair’s plans. When the Revolution breaks out, Katey and Javier go to a beach tent and make love. The day after, Katey finds out that she has to leave Cuba. On their last night in Havana together, Katey and Javier share a night full of dancing before they say goodbye but Katey also narrates that she and Javier know that it will not be their last night dancing together.
Production Notes & Trivia
- Although set in Cuba, it was filmed in Puerto Rico.
- Patrick Swayze, from the original film, makes a cameo appearance; although never named on screen, it is edited as if Swayze is playing the role of Johnny from Dirty Dancing. Yet in the script draft this person is named as Simon “Sim” Johns.
- The plot is loosely based on the life story of JoAnn Jansen, who moved to Cuba with her family in 1958. Thus, the “Based on True Events” title. She is also a producer and choreographer for the film.
Soundtrack
- “Dance Like This” – Wyclef Jean featuring Claudette Ortiz
- “Dirty Dancing” – Black Eyed Peas
- “Guajira (I Love U 2 Much)” – Yerba Buena
- “Can I Walk By” – Jazze Pha featuring Monica
- “Satellite (From “Havana Nights”)” – Santana Featuring Jorge Moreno
- “El Beso Del Final” – Christina Aguilera
- “Represent, Cuba” – Orishas featuring Heather Headley
- “Do You Only Wanna Dance” – Mýa
- “You Send Me” – Shawn Kane
- “El Estuche” – Aterciopelados
- “Do You Only Wanna Dance” – Julio Daviel Big Band Conducted by Cucco Pena
- “Satellite (Spanish Version) Nave Espacial (From “Havana Nights”)” – Santana Featuring Jorge Moreno