Technically there is only one discotheque in Cabrera, Avalon, located adjacent to El Parque and above a Chinese owned Pica-Pollo take-a-way. Avalon also is only open at the week-ends, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and doesn’t begin to get busy until the normal bars close at around midnight. Although there are no real licensing regulations there is some control over noise so music in the streets or in open bars is supposed to stop at 12.00am.
Avalon, of course, plays disco style music, normally the disco or dance version of the popular music you hear everywhere but upbeat, louder and the extended versions. Entry is normally free but drink prices are more expensive than elsewhere to compensate. However, at fiesta week-ends or other special occasions they will charge an entry fee, sometimes 50 pesos for guys and girls free, other times 100 pesos each. It all depends on the occasion and what they feel they can get away with.
Normally, by the time revelers drift into the disco, they are already in a happy mood and with the beat and some more to drink almost anything goes. Dominican dancing can be fairly sensual at the best of times and once the alcohol and the music takes control it can become quite erotic so watching some of the dancing taking place on the dimly lit dance floor with strobe lights flashing can be a very enlightening experience to say the least!
Apart from the official “Discotheque” one should not ignore the “mobile discos” which can pop up almost anywhere at any time of the day or night. These are vehicles which have been specially fitted out by their owners with music systems and speakers that any disco would be happy to have. They will stop anywhere they like, the doors will open and music will be played at maximum volume whist the occupants, drinks in hand, dance in the street. Often they will be joined by friends they know and a party will start, other times, if there appears to be no interest they will pack up and go on to another location to try their luck there.
The term “Discotheques” does, of course, sometimes mean different things to different people. If your interpretation is a place where there is music and dancing then the term could apply to several other locals in Cabrera, especially Cocomo Bar/discotec which is enclosed and can continue to play music after midnight. However, if you consider discotheques to be late night venues with loud disco style music then Avalon is the only nightspot worthy of the name.
