Dance X Belize 2015 Celebrates its Seventh Year in Belize
Dance X Belize is in its seventh year and in 2015, the creative art experience has evolved to an eight-day event which started on Monday with several workshops and master classes across the country. The first show was a one-day event organized by former dancer and now theatre director, Karen Vernon, bringing dance back to the Bliss stage. In 2010, it blossomed into a showcase of various performances with cultural dance groups from across the country and most recently it incorporated international dance companies. Dance X 2015 will feature presentations from Mexico, Cuba, Argentina and the US. They will be joined by top performing groups from Belize including Lirahuna Satuye from Dangriga, Orqueda Negra in Benque and the Belize National Dance Company from the city.
Karen Vernon
Karen Vernon, Theatre Director/Organizer, Dance X 2015
“We got started on Monday and today with workshops. Jamie was in Dangriga yesterday and today he is doing a marching band workshop which is new. Tomorrow we do the forum and we do the presentation of the September spectacle which is “Barefoot Belize,” which got rained out on twentieth night. So that’s a welcome to our guests and a chance for Belizeans to see the full show here at the Bliss. So that happens at eight p.m. on Wednesday. On Thursday we have the Mexicans, Argentineans and Cubans; on Friday, Dallas Black Theatre returns along with Lyve Arts Project which is Jamie’s company. On Saturday night, we have the big names in Belize: Belize National Dance Company, Lirahuna from Dangriga, Orqueda Negra…you name them. On Sunday we have a special matinee at four p.m. So all shows are at eight p.m.; only Sunday is at four p.m. Every year we try to add a new dimension to Dance X and of course we have to have continuity so Jamie is doing a new program this year. We have the Cubans who are coming in and they are going to be staying for a three year period, visiting the different districts and doing workshops. So this is all a stem off from Dance X. And Dance X 2015 is going to be big.”
Duane Moody
“Who is it catering to? Is it just for dancers or it’s just for anybody that can appreciate the creative art?”
Karen Vernon
“It’s for anybody and everybody. If you love dance, you come; if you are not too sure, you still come. There is a genre of dance for everyone. We have modern dance, contemporary, cultural, hip hop. You name it and it will be here. So if you are not too sure, mek wi see weh di happen dah Bliss. Come on by, it is only twenty dollars and come and see what’s happening for Dance X Belize 2015.”
