With
14 participating companies coming from around the globe, Cali will hold
its third International Ballet Festival to coincide with International
Dance Day.
The festival, which has become a sort of cultural tradition in this city, will be held from April 26 to May 3.
The
goal of the celebration is to connect Cali’s artistic culture through
ballet, said Gloria Castro, director of the Colombian Ballet Company and
founder of the festival. Castro wanted to present a performance with both
private and public shows, free of charge for everyone.
With that goal in mind, Cali has managed to attract dancers,
directors, and choreographers from some of the biggest companies from
around the world. Theaters, plaza, and outdoor arenas will be filled by
companies coming from Germany, Argentina, Cuba, Spain, Venezuela, the
United States, France, the Czech Republic, Mexico, and Colombia.
A performance of the second
act of Giselle by the Colombian Ballet Company and Ballet Magdeburg from Germany will open the festival. It promises to be an incredible
performance, making anyone fall in love with ballet. Other pieces
include traditional Korean dance from Colombia, the flight of the
Medusa, and Medieval Happiness.
To celebrate International Dance Day on April 29 the festival will hold
a variety of events throughout the city, including discussions,
workshops, and activities for kids.
This year is the first year this many countries have come to join this
great cultural event, and the festival hopes to attract even more than
the 40,000 people who attended last year. This year the program is also
a bit more diverse to invite both people from Cali and tourists to experience what is increasingly making Colombia stand out as a cultural epicenter.