LAS TUNAS, Cuba.- The US State Department has denied the visas requested by young artists from that country who intended to participate in the 45th edition of the Jornada Cucalambeana, scheduled for this eastern city from June 27th through July 1st.

Yaneixi Ramírez, of the Provincial Culture Department, told ACN that the members of the Wici Dance Company informed organizers about the impossibility of attending this festival, considered to be one of the most important on Cuban traditional culture.

In an e-mail signed by the representatives of the Chicago-based folk company, its members regret this situation, since they saw the trip to Cuba as a possibility to establish bonds of twinning between the two peoples.

Wici Company Dance was founded in 1972 with the purpose of promoting Polish culture in European-descendant communities in the United States and to preserve singing, dance and music traditions by way of performances in which national costumes and original rural environment choreographies are present.

The company is composed of children and youngsters, who receive art classes and perform in stages of the northern nation and of other countries in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Taking part in the 45th edition of the Jornada Cucalambeana are guests from Mexico, Italy, Chile, Germany, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela, who will present the traditions of their peoples in visual arts, handicrafts and oral culture.