The second edition of the Festival of Black Dances: Afro-Caribbean Reflections (Festival de Danzas Negras: Reflexiones Afrocaribeñas) has launched in Mexico, uniting 330 artists across 29 participating companies for more than 50 events. According to SIPSE, the cultural gathering runs until August 12, 2026, with programming distributed across 11 venues spanning the Ciudad de México and Cancún.
Festival of Black Dances Launches Second Edition in Mexico
Organized by the Secretariat of Culture of the Government of Mexico through the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (INBAL) and the Coordinación Nacional de Danza, the festival features collaboration with the Instituto de la Cultura y las Artes del Municipio de Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo. The initiative highlights artistic expressions of African descent through dance, music, academic exchange, and community workshops.
Palace of Fine Arts Opening Gala
The opening gala took place in the Main Hall of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, where an initial performance set the tone for the international gathering. The inaugural presentation featured Mujeres de cuero y lava,
a contemporary work by Mexican choreographer Argelia Arreola that explores the body as a territory of memory and resistance. Arreola has spent more than two decades researching and developing performance pieces inspired by African diaspora traditions.
The opening performance brought together a dozen dancers accompanied by live percussionists and musicians. The performers included interpreters from Guerrero, Veracruz, Quintana Roo, and Ciudad de México, with several afromexican women selected specifically through dedicated project workshops and auditions.
International Participation and Cuban Heritage
The second part of the opening gala featured the Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba, an institution founded in 1962. Under the direction of Leiván García Valle and featuring choreographies by Manolo Micler, the ensemble presented that the roots and time were highlighted in their performance. The program highlighted traditional manifestations of African origin, including:
* Ayabbá: A dance dedicated to Oyá, the orisha of wind and lightning.
* Obaterero: A piece pairing traditional Batá drum sounds with contemporary musical resources.
* Dahomeño: An evocation of ancient fertility rites preserved within Cuban culture.
* Rumberos: A celebration of Cuban rumba, which is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Overall, the festival includes researchers, dancers, and specialists from nine countries: Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Haití, Puerto Rico, República Dominicana, Venezuela, and México.
Events and Free Programming in Cancún
As part of the decentralization of cultural life, events extend to venues in Cancún, such as the Teatro 8 de Octubre and the Teatro de la Ciudad. According to Quintanaroohoy, scheduled programming includes master classes such as professional dancer Serafín Aponte explaining the journey and challenges of an Afro-Mexican professional dancer, alongside traditional culinary experiences focused on afromexican gastronomy.
Public stage performances in Cancún feature works such as Desde mi adentro,
Génesis,
a celebration of Afro-Mexican identity titled LOBA, and Marginal.
All festival activities are free of charge, with tickets distributed at venue box offices starting two hours prior to each curtain.
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