THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DANCE AND MEIGAS ASSOCIATION

The next day 29 will be celebrated, as every year, the International Day of Dance as a tribute to this difficult art that, as a means of corporal expression, takes us accompanying from the origins of civilization.

Yesterday we had the opportunity to attend the annual tribute paid by the Association of Meigas of the Bonfires of San Juan through its "Dance Contest of A Noite da Queima", which this year reached its fourteenth edition, harvesting in each of They are a greater success than the previous one.

It was a very pleasant evening; One of those afternoons in which those who do not have the happiness to know the techniques proper to the art of dance miss this knowledge to be a little more fair in our appreciations. However, in order to be able to discern between what is beautiful and what is not, it is enough to let the senses flood with all the nuances of what we are contemplating and that is what we did yesterday.

A theater overflowing with public; Punctual punctuality; A dignified staging and a presentation without ostentations, were more than enough factors to hook us for an hour and a half to the spectacle of which we were witnesses.

The Association of Meigas and especially its President, Mª Concepción Astray, has been demonstrating their vocation for everything related to dance and ballet, and this is precisely the reason why this event was launched today, whether you like it or not. Like the usual ones, in an authentic reference in our beloved city of La Coruña, turning the Association of Meigas into the first reference of our city in this field.

From its beginnings, the organization of the Contest, tried to leave no one outside, not to give away anyone, admitting, willingly, all those Ballets and Schools interested in participating, doing good that "what is important is to add, Not to subtract ". Without a doubt, they have been able to do so, given that each year there are more Entities interested in participating. Yesterday was a clear example of the above.

We attended, yesterday in Rosalia, a show with class and category as our city deserves, not the impenitent and impertinent chabacanería to which we want to accustom those who argue, to finance friends or co-religionists, that these are artistic manifestations Of the town, as if the others had their origin in the stratosphere.

Yesterday, the twelve participating Schools and Ballets, Danza 10 Studio; Dance Group of the House of Andalusia; Mau-Loa Dance Center; Dance Steps; Ba.In.Ga; School of Ballet "Cindellera"; ACy D. Colexio Obradoiro; Danzade School; Dance group of the "Raquel Camacho" College; School dance group "Daughters of Christ the King"; Sadanza Dance School of the Society of Sada and School of Dance Carmen, they put in scene, in a careful, dignified and elegant way, their choreographic works fruit of the effort and the dedication of teachers and actuantes.

Throughout the hour and a half the show lasted we had the opportunity to see examples of a good part of the different styles of dance, of that universal dance that can not and should not be encrusted in absurd localisms. From classical ballet, elegant and sensual, to Spanish dance, brave and vibrant, passing, as not, by Galician dance, endearing and magical; The modern and contemporary ballet and even oriental dances and other coming from our antipodes, everything had room in the show. In short, a varied and complete sample, not monotonous of the difficult art of Terpsichore.

The fragile, rhythmic and elegant movements; A careful and careful wardrobe; Choreographies full of imagination and good taste, allowed us to pay you the best possible homage to the Dance on the eve of your world day.

Surprisingly, of course, or perhaps not surprising at all, that the Tide Council once again miserably gave back to a celebration like this. An act in which were represented more than two thousand young people of Coruñeses that daily go to the classrooms where the participating Schools and Ballets impart their teachings. Two thousand daughters and sons of Coruña who religiously pay their taxes and therefore are owners of that Theater whose rental fee the City Council made cash, as if it were a company, despite knowing that access to the Contest was totally free.

However, the Ballets and Schools participating yesterday are not part of their cast of friends for whom if there are favors and favors as we can observe and we will observe shortly that we look. A pity but thanks to those attitudes every day we know better who is who in this city.

I would like to conclude by congratulating the Association of Meigas and its President, and, of course, in a very special way to the Directors and Directors of the Schools and Ballets, as well as all the members of their bodies for the brilliance of the show With which they gave us yesterday. Thank you very much. You yourselves know how to honor the Dance in its international day.

Thank you very much and Happy International Dance Day.

José Eugenio Fernández Barallobre.

(Photo: José Carlos Fernández)