BY JORDAN LEVIN

 The Cuban government is strongly urging the island's musicians to steer clear of Miami because of local tension over Elian Gonzalez.

 Paulito y Su Elite, a dance band scheduled to play at the club Starfish in Miami Beach, and cabaret artist Juana Bacallao and dance band Pachito Alonso y Su Kini-Kini, who were supposed to play together at the Rumba Room in downtown Miami, both decided not to keep their dates last weekend. Cuban cultural officials told them they could further inflame a city already heated over the Elian Gonzalez saga.

 There may not be any other shows soon. Bacallao and Alonso were supposed to arrive in Miami today en route to shows in Austin and New York City, said Hamlet Casals, who still hoped Wednesday night to persuade the band to play in Miami tonight and Friday. Casals' company, Bright Moon Entertainment, is trying to bring the musicians here despite the Cuban government's advice.

 Casals had sold about 300 tickets for the Rumba Room performances and had bought advertising touting the show.

 Last Saturday's massive protest in Little Havana was a particular concern to the Cuban government.

 ``Cuban cultural authorities advised the artists that Miami was going through a very sensitive situation right now and that it was not the proper time to do Cuban events,'' said Hugo Cancio, who runs the Rumba Room and has presented a number of Cuban artists in the past.

 Cancio said he has postponed several Cuban concerts in recent months because of the Elian situation.

 ``Even under normal circumstances, these events create discontent for some sectors of the Cuban [exile] community,'' he said. ``Now [Cuban officials] felt like it would create a huge controversy and it was not in everyone's best interests. I think the decision was made not only because of security concerns, but out of concern for a huge controversy or maybe even an act of violence.''

 Cuban officials apparently feel so strongly about this that they forbade the band Bamboleo, which starts a U.S. tour June 1, from even changing planes in Miami, according to Jimmy Maslom, head of California-based Ahinama Records, which is booking the Bamboleo tour.

 Paulito's band had received visas to come to the United States but decided against appearing here after being told by Cuban cultural officials that it would be unsafe, said Debbie Ohanian, owner of Starfish.

 ``They were advised not to come to Miami, especially last weekend because of the march,'' Ohanian said. ``They want to come here and play, but they want to keep everybody happy. And if that means not coming to Miami, that's what they'll do.''

                     Copyright 2000 Miami Herald