Venezuela Moves! First National Dance Festival Held in Caracas

In mid-November, Venezuela celebrated its first annual dance festival in Caracas. The event, organized by the National Dance Center and the Ministry of Culture, and entitled Venezuela Moves, brought together national choreographers and dance companies ranging from modern, folkloric, ballet, and African dance.

Festival organizers described the event as an attempt to democratize access to culture among the Venezuelan population, as well as to highlight trends in dance which had previously been hidden or denigrated, such as traditional Venezuelan dance and urban Hip Hop.

From November 13th to the 15th, dancers were ubiquitous throughout the city, wowing audiences in historic theaters and engaging passerby in dynamic installations held in metro stations.

“Within the festival, we have a space for reflection because the dancer or the choreographer cannot just simply interpret or carry out the moves, she has to think about where we are in this moment, where is dance right now? What role is it playing in this revolutionary process and how can we create? How can we reinforce our independence, not just politically and economically, but culturally?” said Omar Orozco, Director of Venezuela´s National Dance Centre.