A father and his daughter, hailing from the Isle of Youth, have become a TikTok sensation after sharing a video of themselves dancing 'reparto' right in the streets of Switzerland. The 44-second clip, uploaded by Alexander Martinez under the username @alex.martinezz77 on February 26, has garnered over 184,000 views, 15,800 likes, 536 comments, and 363 shares.
Captured outside a car dealership named Autowelt Schweiz, with a silver Rolls-Royce in the background and European residential buildings with green shutters, the video strikingly contrasts Caribbean dance with the Swiss urban setting. This juxtaposition contributed significantly to its viral spread among the Cuban diaspora.
The father, 48, is seen wearing an oversized white T-shirt, beige baggy pants, a black cap with the letter "A," and dark sunglasses. His 26-year-old daughter sports a black leather jacket, gray wide-leg pants, white sneakers, and a decorative gold belt. Both exhibit fluidity and rhythm in their moves, undeterred by the European chill or passersby.
"Oee here are the people from the Isle of Youth," Alexander Martinez proudly noted in the video description, celebrating his roots. The video also references dance creators @Jaison Rodríguez Tápanes and @esruben, and uses hashtags like #repartocubano, #fatherdaughter, #cubansaroundtheworld, and #cubansinEurope, embedding it firmly within a well-established trend among the diaspora.
'Reparto' is an urban music genre that emerged around 2007 in the Havana neighborhood of Arroyo Naranjo, considered a purely Cuban creation. It blends reggaeton with traditional Cuban rhythms such as timba, rumba, and guaguancó, and its signature dance — characterized by hip movements and street steps — has become a cultural emblem for Cuban emigrants worldwide. The genre was first popularized by Elvis Manuel, who began experimenting with it at age 18. From 2015, artists like El Taiger, Chocolate MC, Jacob Forever, and El Micha propelled it into widespread popularity.
This video is part of a broader phenomenon frequently seen on social media: Cubans in Europe sharing their culture through Cuban dance on TikTok. Cuban painters in Tenerife, an Italian woman dancing 'reparto' with her Cuban boyfriend, or a Cuban and Peruvian duo dancing in Madrid's Gran Vía are examples that have followed this viral trend in recent months.
The humor in "bringing Cuba anywhere," combined with cultural nostalgia and identity pride, largely explains why such content resonates deeply with the Cuban community abroad. Since 2021, the Cuban diaspora has exceeded a million people, with Europe — especially Spain, Switzerland, Italy, and France — receiving a significant portion of this exodus.
The Isle of Youth, a special Cuban territory south of the main island, has also contributed emigrants to this diaspora. This father and daughter duo exemplify two Cubans who, thousands of miles from home, have found in 'reparto' the best way to remember where they come from.
The Global Impact of Cuban 'Reparto' Dance
What is 'reparto' music?
'Reparto' is an urban music genre originating in Havana, Cuba, around 2007. It combines reggaeton with traditional Cuban rhythms like timba, rumba, and guaguancó.
How did the Cuban father and daughter gain popularity on TikTok?
The father and daughter became viral sensations by sharing a video of themselves dancing 'reparto' in a Swiss street, which attracted over 184,000 views on TikTok due to its cultural contrast and vibrant energy.
Why does 'reparto' dance resonate with the Cuban diaspora?
The dance embodies cultural identity and nostalgia, allowing Cubans abroad to connect with their roots and share their heritage globally.