Dirty
Dancing Havana Nights' Diego Luna: having many Cuban friends
and admiring many of their heroes and stars, it was an honor
to play a young Cuban in this movie.
Inspired by
the original 1987 Academy Awards winning blockbuster film
Dirty Dancing (starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey),
which transported millions of viewers to the summer of 1963
to observe a young girl's coming of age in a small world
full of music and dancing, this Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights
is set in pre-Castro Cuba, circa 1958. The story follows an
18-year old girl on her journey to discover love, sensuality
and independence on the sizzling tropical shores of Havana,
surrounded by the mystical and passionate rhythms and dances
of Afro-Cuban music. Based on producer/choreographer JoAnn
Jansen's real life experiences as a North American teenager
in Cuba, Katey Miller, played by Romola Garai (Nicholas
Nickleby) is expected to join the group of American
teenagers who are the Miller's neighbors at the exclusive
Oceana Hotel in Havana. Instead, Katey is drawn to Javier,
played by Diego Luna (Y Tu Mamá También, Frida), a proud,
young Cuban waiter and gifted dancer. Determined to move and
dance like Javier, Katey persuades him to partner with her
in a prestigious national dance competition at one of
Havana's glittering nightclub/casinos. Soon the young
American girl is deceiving her family as she experiences a
different Cuba by day and a clandestine Cuba by night with
Javier. Meeting at a local dance spot where the dancing is
hotter than the temperature outside, they polish their dance
moves and fall in love. Unaware of the revolutionary
violence that is about to erupt in the streets of Havana,
they take their place as a couple on the dance floor the
night of the contest. Supporting cast includes Sela Ward
(Once and
Again, My
Fellow Americans) and John Slattery (Traffic, Bad Company)
as Katey Miller's parents and Mika Boorem (Blue Crush,
Riding in Cars With Boys) as Katey's younger sister Susie.
Jonathan Jackson (Insomnia, Tuck Everlasting) plays Carlos,
the revolutionary brother of Javier, and January Jones
(American Wedding, Anger Management) plays Eve.
The following
is a recent interview with Mexican actor and Dirty Dancing:
Havana Nights leading-man, Diego Luna Alexander.
RUDY MANGUAL:
Considering that your acting career started in Mexican
telenovelas and that on your previous movie credits (Y Tu
Mamá Tambien, Nicotina, Open Range, Frida), you were
featured in more dramatic roles, how difficult or not was it
to make a film that's mostly about music and dancing?
DIEGO LUNA: It
was a new challenge for me, but like preparing for any movie
role, regardless of what it is, you must become the
character you are portraying and portray it truthfully. I
think Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights is perhaps a more
commercial movie than most of my previous works, but again,
it's all about my ability in convincing an audience that I'm
a young Cuban waiter who happens to be a brilliant dancer.
Having many Cuban friends and admiring many of their heroes
and stars, it was an honor to play a young Cuban in this
movie. I became a Cuban at least for the several months of
filming.
RM: Were you a
good dancer prior to portraying this character?
DL: No, not at
all, I needed a couple of tequila shots and a very beautiful
girl in front of me to get me to dance! (LAUGHTER) I
rehearsed hard for several months with a Puerto Rican dance
instructor and with a few Los Angeles dancers to get to the
proper dance form needed to feel the clave. It was tough and
hard work but it was all worth it. Now I feel very happy and
proud because I can dance.
RM: Was the
dance training mostly salsa dancing?
DL: Yes,
salsa. Doing a film like this one, you can learn the
choreography step by step and make it through the scenes or
you can learn to dance, understand and feel the music the
right way and have a great time dancing while making the
movie. I guess I did a little of both. I greatly admire good
dancers who are happy with themselves and their bodies and
move to the music so freely and naturally.
RM: Were you a
fan of the original Dirty Dancing movie with Patrick Swayze
and Jennifer Grey?
DL: No, not at
all. I saw the movie in Puerto Rico for the very first time
during rehearsals. It wasn't the type of movie I was
accustomed to watch as an aspiring actor. But after watching
it, I understood why it was such a commercial and popular
success.
RM: In terms
of the direction and dance coaching from JoAnn Jansen, did
it consist of straightforward dance routines or did you have
the freedom to improvise at will?
DL: JoAnn,
through her own inside connection to the storyline, helped
me to believe in the story and the role of my character
"Javier," to speak truthfully through the character. Making
any movie a success these days takes teamwork and that's
what we had going for us during this production through the
producer/choreographer talents of JoAnn, to the directing of
Guy Ferland and the magic of the entire cast.
RM: Before
making this movie, were you familiar with Cuban music?
DL: Yes, I've
always loved Cuban music and its rhythms. In this movie we
are blessed with the participation of the Cuban band Orisha,
among other great bands. I only hope the movie gives them
the extra exposure they deserve.
RM: With
several English-speaking roles under your belt, do you have
a preference in acting in either English or Spanish?
DL: No, I
enjoy doing both, but of course, I still feel more
comfortable doing Spanish films. But in a year I may make
eight movies in Mexico and one in the States and the one in
the States will give me more international exposure. As a
working actor, I must continue doing both to survive in this
business.
RM: Was there
any chemistry between you and your leading lady, Romola
Garai?
DL: Yes,
professional chemistry. Like myself, she also became her
character one hundred percent, adding that extra magic you
will see.
RM: Did you
enjoy filming and working in Puerto Rico?
DL: Yes,
Puerto Rico is a beautiful island and a very cool place.
RM: Was it
your first visit to Puerto Rico?
DL: Yes, and I
ended up spending five months on the island. I became like a
native. Puerto Rico was a lot of fun. The people are always
happy and love to party.
RM: Will you
continue to dance from now on?
DL: I don't
know, but after people watch the movie they may expect more
dancing from me in my leisure time. I hope that I will
remember at least some of the dancing that I learned while
in Puerto Rico.
RM: Do you see
yourself as the next "John Travolta" of dance movies?
DL: Not at
all, I want to continue growing as an actor by taking many
different roles throughout my career as he has during his.
Nothing wrong with being a great dancer but I'd rather be
the best actor I can be.
