![](https://www.trabajadores.cu/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/pancho-amat.x10671.jpg)
»To keep alive our roots is necessary today in order to strengthen our national culture and to continue creating», assured the Cuban musician Pancho Amat, when referring to the 27th Festival La Huella de España, to take place here from April 2 thru 9.
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Dedicated to the autonomous community of the Canary Islands, the venue will gather outstanding interpreters and companies like the one led by dancer and choreographer Irene Rodriguez, the National Ballet and dance groups from the Federation of Spanish Societies in Cuba.
For me, the main contribution of the festival is the chance to retake the contact with the peoples that influenced the development of our culture. It also allows us to show what we have done with that legacy and how has talent grown through the years, affirmed Amat.
He also added that in Cuban art there is a strong presence of the hispanic ingredient, evident in manifestations as the music, where sonorities and rhythms with origin at the península.
Amat will interpret at the inaugural gala Lagrimas Negras of Miguel Matamoros and Son para mi abuelo, composed by him.
I am honored to have been invited to the event. My grandfather was Canarian and in my music improvization is always present, that is fruit of the work of Vicente Espinel from Malaga and joins Cuba with that region of Spain, he commented.
On the other hand, he announced the presentation by the middle of this year of his new record Hoy como Ayer, which will have 13 songs.
In the record tne roots of Cuban music will be present very clearly, but combined with lyrics and contemporary elements, hence the title. (Taken from Prensa Latina)