PARTY! at Hotel Playa Coco, Cayo Coco, Cuba

Two years while on vacation at Brisas Santa Lucia I discovered Cuban/latin inspired dance music. The gregarious animation staff (Idenio, Fidel, Ariel and Carlito et al). would take us to an outdoor disco nearby where we'd party with local Cubans to their music. And that's where I fell in love with Daddy Yankee, Chino Y Nacho, Don Omar, etc.. As soon as I got home I began work on what would be two reggaeton flavored dance tunes, Throw It!, which I dedicated to the Brisas entertainers, and Party! And one year after the original vacation, I tried to go back to Brisas Santa Lucia. I hoped to shoot a travelogue video & put it to one of the songs that Santa Lucia had inspired. But the prices jumped 50% at the last minute. My Flight Center agent, Curtis, suggested Hotel Playa Coco, and so, with a sigh of regret, I took it. It was beautiful... the beaches were stunning, and the animation staff, I discovered, were kind, sweet, and so much fun! I was burnt out so did nothing for the first week. But the second week I dusted my DSLR off and started shooting. I was hanging with the animation staff by this time and partying with them so they were often in the shots. I told charismatic Miguel, the defacto leader of the dancers, that if they were in the video, I'd put them in the credits. He paused for a long minute, then said "No one's ever offered to do that." The next day he came up to me and said imperiously, "We're choreographing it. And you - you're going to practice, yes? Until you get it right. Then, " he added, fixing me with a steely look, "You're going to put on a SEXY dress and we will shoot it". And he tossed his mop of blonde hair and walked away as I stood there, mouth agape and eyes wet. Almost all the dancers wanted in - Loiver, Bobbi, Alain etc. They practiced in the hot sun, in the few spare hours they had between grueling rehearsals and performances - never once complaining. And I practiced in my room and on the beach. And I'd find my throat tightening as I'd come across them singing MY song - my song - to themselves as they went about their business. It was magic. We recruited another one of our little gang, a stunning young Canadian drag queen named Dru to shoot the choreographed sequences I was in. And discovered Dru an innate talent (and bossiness) was a born DOP. She' stand there in full Amy Winehouse makeup barking out orders as she shot - without a tripod - with a rock steady hand. And Miguel, wonderful Miguel, choreographed with flare. He had SO many brilliant ideas. But we ran out of time, and ended up guerilla shooting on the swim-up bar at night, and in the dark walkway minutes before they had to perform. But we did it. It was crazy and it was magical. I came home, got pneumonia, and as soon as I was strong enough started editing, between naps. And this is the result. And I will always be grateful for their belief in me and my song. And their friendship. And for you, well I hope it makes you wanna shake what god gave you! LOL and I hope it shows you the joy and fun the Playa Coco animacion staff bring to us all. I'm planning to go back, to shoot another video, hopefully with Dru (who just keeps getting prettier, damn her!, the outrageously talented and charismatic Miguel, and the awesome Coco Loco dancers. If you go there, and they show you a good time at the pool, beach, disco or on stage, remember to tip them! They work so hard for us all. But for now, enjoy my video, and if you like it, share widely!