KABUL, Afghanistan - It was anything but a typical quiet night at Kabul International Airport, Oct. 1, as the 1st Cavalry Division Band belted out salsa and meringue beats that vibrated off metal storage containers in one corner of the compound.
Nearly 150 service members and civilians packed into the Belgian Lounge, a tent where people gather various days of the week for pool, darts and “near beer”, to dance and laugh.
“This is the sort of thing that it great for us,” said Staff Sgt. Carlos Rodriguez-Rosado, an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Medical Operations non-commissioned officer and KAIA’s salsa instructor. “A month and a half ago, the salsa night I taught hardly had any followers and now I see most of the people I teach out here enjoying themselves. It’s a good thing.”
The band was brought in from Bagram Air Field for a separate performance at a neighboring camp in the Kabul Base Cluster, but was presented with the opportunity to perform at KAIA. They gladly accepted.
“We knew the time to rehearse was limited, and we would have liked to play more but we gave 100 percent for the 90 minutes we were up there and I really think everyone had a good time,” said Sgt. Chris Fairly, the band’s male vocalist.
Pushing through the sweat-drenched, twirling throng of salsa-enthusiasts, there was no denying the excitement from the live music. Looking above the crowd, to the stage, the smile beaming across Pvt. Amarilys Rodriguez-Roman’s face reflected the same excitement.
Rodriguez-Roman, the band’s vocalist and a supply clerk with 1st Cav. Div., was overwhelmed at the crowd’s response to the concert and their diversity.
“I felt the feedback. I’m up on the stage, looking down at the dance floor, seeing all these people having such a good time but being able to feel that is so much better,” said Rodriguez-Roman. To have all these people, from so many different countries, shows you that music has no boundaries.”
With six months remaining for Fort Hood’s 1st Cav. Div., Rodriguez-Roman hopes there will be more chances to come back to KAIA and perform for the NATO troops and civilians.
Date Taken: | 10.06.2011 |
Date Posted: | 10.07.2011 00:00 |
Story ID: | 78153 |
Location: | KABUL, AF |
Web Views: | 120 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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