David: A Chinese man who carries Cuba in his heart and feet

Before setting foot in Cuba for the first time, Huo Yaofei already imagined it as a country where music and dance were synonymous with happiness. That intuition was not only fulfilled, but exceeded all his expectations, he confesses now from China. He knew about the historic friendship between Cuba and the Asian giant, the sugar, the exemplary medicine, the legendary sportspeople and, above all, the culture. “But nothing compares to experiencing it,” admits Huo, whose name here is simply David.

“Although it’s a nation of just a few million people, it’s very well known in the world. I could say that, in the last 20 years, I’ve traveled there more than 60 times.  I don’t remember the exact number, but the average is five or six times every year,” he confesses with the calmness of someone who refuses to miss out on his Caribbean home.

More than 25 years ago, in a salsa bar in Beijing, David decided he didn’t want to dance like “just another Latino,” but like a Cuban. “There is a naturalness and a unique energy in how you move your body. It’s not just technique, it’s pure joy that comes from within.” For him, salsa has become a philosophy of life. “Watching a Cuban dance is like witnessing art in motion. In other countries you dance; in Cuba, you live it.”

But how does a Chinese man manage to master those moves that even many locals find difficult? Without hesitation he answers: “Casino is the dance of Cuba, no one can outdo you.”

The stereotypical shyness of the Chinese does not apply in his case, it is like a bridge for exchanges between two cultures, he explains. “China is subtlety; Cuba, unbridled passion. I’m in the middle, learning from both.”

His Cuban knowledge is not limited to salsa: he masters son, timba, changüí and even Afro-Cuban rhythms, but “Cuba is not just music for me, it’s my second homeland,” he says with conviction. “I would never betray it. Everything I love is here: the art, the rum, the cigars, the beaches… and, above all, the people who make it possible.” 

Proudly, as a local, the influencer, artist and dancer, talks about Cuban musical icons. “Meeting Omara Portuondo or Mayito Rivera – whom my wife Isabella used to call the ‘Michael Jackson of Cuba’ – is an honor that words cannot describe.” That respect, among other merits, led him to become ambassador in China of the promotional campaign “Cuba Única” of the Ministry of Tourism of the Caribbean archipelago that seeks to show the world the richness and diversity of the Antillean nation.

He received the appointment two years ago, at FitCuba 2023, to promote the benefits of the Cuban leisure industry in his country. “This is a great honor, I think I deserve it,” he says proudly. “But even without any title, I would still do my best for Cuba.”

Even on the other side of the world, David is not far away. For several decades he has been teaching casino dancing to his fellow countrymen in two academies, “La casa de David,” in Beijing, and “Baila así,” in the city of Shanghai. In both, “Everything revolves around Cuba: workshops, exchanges, collaborations with the embassy… It’s my way of giving back to the island everything it has given me.” His classes are not only about rhythm or dance, but also about the history of Cuban music.

His first image of Cuba, built from afar, has evolved over the years. “Cuba is small on the map, but huge in heart. Each visit deepens my admiration.” To those who hesitate to visit because of negative news, he issues a challenge: “Give me five minutes and Cuba will be your next destination. Not because of my words, but because its magic is UNIQUE”.

Still, he acknowledges the current challenges – the blockade, the shortages – but his faith in the Cuban people is unwavering. “I always find changes, but also that essence that is not lost.”

With FitCuba 2025 dedicated to China, David sees a historic opportunity. “For the tourism industry in Cuba, the Chinese market has great potential, the population of my country is huge and the Caribbean is very attractive to us. Recently the Cuban government decided to implement a visa-free policy for my compatriots and direct flights from Beijing to Havana were resumed. These are great antecedents to this Fair.”

David always returns to Cuba because for him this is not a destination, it is a sentiment he carries in his soul. And although he is Chinese by birth, he is also Cuban by choice. How much more does he want to know about the island? He stresses that Cuba is an ocean, and he has barely sailed in its waters and does not plan to stop doing so.