International Dance Day, a free festival with all styles

This Friday, April 29, marks International Dance Day, established by UNESCO exactly forty years ago. Every country in the world where it is celebrated does it in its own way.

Here, in Buenos Aires, the Argentine Dance Council headed by Beatriz Durante has been organizing the gala for more than two decades, always accompanied by guests and works of various genres; or rather have a selection from that massive range that includes classical ballet, contemporary dance, flamenco, tango and folklore, among other performances that are included in a dynamic way each year.

On this occasion, the Contemporary Ballet of San Martín is part of the program in a fragment of the wonderful Cantata by Mauro Bigonzetti; dancers Yanina Martínez and Yamil Rabaj in a group of tablao flamenco, the Tango Company of Leonardo Cuello, Fernando Castro –Champion of the Festival of Malambo de Laborde 2009-Graciela Avalos and Matías Zomoza in a 19th century ballroom dance.

Also added the Compañía de las Trincheras under the direction of Rubén Suárez, the Grupo Cadabra of contemporary dance, and the dancer Antonella Zanutto, under the direction of Oscar Araiz in three single pieces.

The Ballet del Colón will participate in two pas de deux, but when the performances of Giselle there was a massive spread of covid in dance corps.

Talk to Beatriz While

– How was the idea of ​​the first gala formed?

– Many years ago I met a group of people, representatives of the UNESCO International Dance Council, who came to Buenos Aires from Paris to create a local association. Through them we learn that UNESCO established International Dance Day. Ángeles Ruanova is the president of the new association and I, the general secretary.

We thought it was a good idea to celebrate Dance Day here with a gala, and that dance people had their day, for people from the interior to come, both artists and the public, and to bring the dance closer to other spectators in general. We started 27 years ago and the galas are always free.

-Does the programming standard of galas change over time?

-We always want the most representative displays of each genre to be present. At first they were smaller wandering but later they grew and merged; It’s a huge pleasure that the artists themselves are offering themselves even though everyone knows they don’t charge anything.

I remember years ago Julio Bocca directed the Argentine Ballet, I was asked why I had not invited him; There were only two days left for the function and I told him, “Julio, the programs are already printed”. He replied: “I don’t care, how come we’re not on the gala?” And he participated without coming out of the program.

-And as for the inconveniences, what things are you experiencing?

– Our main problem is space. For a long time, as Kive Staiff headed the Buenos Aires Theater Complex, we had the Teatro Presidente Alvear until closed. And also at the Martín Coronado del San Martín hall and at the Teatro de la Ribera. Always free of charge. But for some time now, we have had to rent cinemas using our relatively limited resources.

eclectic repertoire

-In this Gala 2022 program there will be tango, contemporary dance, flamenco and three expressions of Argentine legend. What prompted you to decide on a larger folk dance presence?

-Thanks for the many notes read in the diary Clarion I got to know the Malambo de Laborde Festival very well, which I had never heard of before. In 2021, we presented the María Ruanova award — the only dance award in existence in the country — no longer to an individual artist as usual, but to the entire Festival.

And this is what made me think, why not bring some of these dancers to participate in the gala? That’s why I invited the couple acting as “refalosa” and the malambista Fernando Castro. But I needed more to close the native scene, so I suggested to Rubén Suáres, director of the Compañía de las Trincheras, that he put a pericón.

-What dance expressions are your personal passion, even if it does not influence the choice of program?

– I started at a very young age in Spanish dance. I later attended the National School of Dance and practiced classical ballet. And when I graduated, the folkloric dance career opened up and that’s where I entered. Meanwhile, she studies modern dance and American tap dancing.

Now I feel like I’m closing a circle and all return to me; I think dance should always evoke emotion, no matter what “language” it uses. And in that sense, dance is one.

Information

The Gala for International Dance Day will be held this Friday, April 29 at 8:30 pm at the Teatro del Globo. Marcelo T. de Alvear 1155.

Tickets are free and can be booked by calling 4901-4615.

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