Cuba Bans Salsa Group for 6 Months

MEXICOCITY (AP) - It seems the salsa got a bit too spicy.

The Cuban ''hard salsa'' group La Charanga Habanera got a six-month suspension by Cuban authorities who deemed the bumping and grinding moves of its members and its lyrics too hot for the Cuban public to handle.

The official Cuban newspaper Granma reported Sunday that the public was ``profoundly offended'' by the group's ``violent pelvic movements'' at a recent international youth festival in Havana.

The Cuban Music Institute has banned the group from performing in Cuba or abroad until it cleans up its act, the Mexican government news agency Notimex reported.

La Charanga Habanera is one of a growing number of Cuban groups that plays ``hard salsa,'' a loud, brassy style accompanied by band members' dancing.

In a press statement, band leader David Calzado called the group's July 29 televised performance - which resulted in the firing or transfer of some employees of state-owned television channels - ``unfortunate.''

``We profoundly regret that our public performance created a disagreeable image, because that was not our intention,'' Calzado said.

``We have reached the conclusion that it is our responsibility to keep an eye on the quality of the improvisations gestures and other details which occur on stage.''

AP-NY-08-10-97 2158EDT