Since its first edition, in 2013, the Cali International Dance Biennialin Colombia, has established itself as one of the most relevant cultural projects in the country, convening in its previous six editions more than 4,250 national and international dancers and 224,000 spectators. In collaboration with the Ramon Llull Institute, this year program one Catalan focus with the participation of 5 companies, and an exhibition.
The Veronalan internationally renowned company known for its multidisciplinary style and a unique and unmistakable aesthetic, presents sonomathe acclaimed work premiered 4 years ago inspired by the figure of Buñuel, and which is a deepening of the piece that the director Marcos Morau created in 2016 for the Ballet de Lorraine titled Surrealism at the service of the Revolution. In Sonoma, what is atavistic prevails, with movements and hypnotic aesthetics that recall old cultures and rituals.
bad hair brings his work to Cali Bach. With co-artistic direction of Pep Ramis i Maria Muñoz, Bach it is presented as a study of movement, gaze, rhythm, breathing and presence in relation to musicality. It is a selection of preludes and fugues contained in the two books they make up The well-tempered harpsichord composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in the 18th century, in which María Muñoz combines the dance of some preludes played live with the memory of some fugues danced in silence.
Another of the Catalan companies scheduled is Aurora Bauzà and Pere Jouwhich will show In BEGINNING #16161D: a piece for 5 dancers/singers equipped with portable lights that we hear breathe, walk and talk. They explore the relationship between movement, voice and light. This piece dissociates the singing body from the moving body. Aurora and Pere Jou are a young company, created in 2021, with a clearly experimental and multidisciplinary philosophy, but which already has a wide international track record and outstanding awards and recognitions.
The choreographer Angels Margaretformer director of the Mercat de les Flors de Barcelona and one of the most relevant and international figures of Catalan dance, will also be part of the Focus Català, carrying out a practical transmission of her piece Hotel room only. Margarit will work on the choreography of his solo with performers from Cali, establishing a transcultural dialogue through dance.
Finally, the artistic collective that emerged from theWorker of the Fira Manresa companyled by Peter Seda and integrated by Isaac Ballester, Oriol Macia, Eduard Roca i Sonia Serrawill carry out a cross-transmission work together with the contemporary dance company Incolballetfrom Colombia, led by Andrea Bonillarenowned choreographer and dancer. This work is articulated through a project of shared residences between the Mediterranean Fair and the Cali biennialwhich starts at Center for Creation and Live Arts Granercontinues with a first sample of the work in the framework of the Mediterranean Fair and culminates with the final presentation at the Biennale.
You can also visit the retrospective exhibition dedicated to Núria Source, Dancing with the camera. Núria Font, Catalan video artist, is a key figure in the recent history of dance in Catalonia: she has created video dance pieces for some of the main contemporary dance companies in the territory, such as Àngels Margarit/cia Mudances and Mal Pelo, of which you can see a sample of the work done by Font. In addition, she was the founder and director of festivals that merged dance and new technologies, such as the Mostra de Videodansa and the VAD, International Festival of Video and Digital Arts.
The Cali Dance Biennial will also have a diverse program of international quality, with companies from seven invited countries (France, Mexico, Brazil, Switzerland, Germany, Spain and Guadalupe Island), and one Regional focus dedicated to the indigenous peoples of Colombia. The repertoire includes contemporary dance, tradition and interdisciplinary creation, with 28 functions, 500 dancers and an extensive agenda of workshops, laboratories and talks.
The Ramon Llull Institute, main collaborating agent of the Catalan Focus at the Cali Biennale, is the body responsible for the international projection of the Catalan language, culture and arts. Through collaboration agreements and support programs, it generates networks of cooperation and dialogue in all areas of creation, literature and translation, Catalan language and Catalan studies, performing arts, cinema, music, visual arts, design and architecture.
The Fira Mediterrània is the strategic market of the Department of Culture of the Generalitat de Catalunya dedicated to the Arts d’Arrel and is held every year in Manresa with the participation of more than 1,000 professionals in each edition. The Fair promotes laboratory projects that allow young dancers to experience an encounter between cultures through dance.
