The Fiesta Nacional de la Danza (English: National Danza Festival), also known as Semana de la Danza Puertorriqueña (English: Puerto Rican Danza Week), is a cultural celebration that takes place every year in Ponce,

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...

. The festival centers on the

danza Danza is a musical genre that originated in Ponce, a city in southern Puerto Rico. It is a popular turn-of-the-twentieth-century ballroom dance genre slightly similar to the waltz. Both the danza and its cousin the contradanza are sequence danc ...

, a musical genre native from the city of Ponce and oftentimes called "Puerto Rico's classical music" with

rhythm Rhythm (from Greek , ''rhythmos'', "any regular recurring motion, symmetry") generally means a " movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions". This general meaning of regular recu ...

, tune, and

cadence In Western musical theory, a cadence (Latin ''cadentia'', "a falling") is the end of a phrase in which the melody or harmony creates a sense of full or partial resolution, especially in music of the 16th century onwards.Don Michael Randel (1999) ...

that are similar to the

waltz The waltz ( ), meaning "to roll or revolve") is a ballroom and folk dance, normally in triple ( time), performed primarily in closed position. History There are many references to a sliding or gliding dance that would evolve into the wa ...

. The celebration lasts a week and takes place in mid-May. It is sponsored by the Ponce Municipal Government and the

Institute of Puerto Rican Culture The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture ( es, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña), or ICP, for short, is an institution of the Government of Puerto Rico responsible for the establishment of the cultural policies required in order to study, preser ...

History

The island-wide celebration has been sponsored by the Government of Puerto Rico since at least 1972, when it was codified into Law (Act 20 of April 26, 1972) that the

was to sponsor the celebration of the Puerto Rican Danza Week every year during the birthday of

Juan Morel Campos Juan Morel Campos (16 May 1857 – 12 May 1896), sometimes erroneously spelled ''Juan Morell Campos'', was a Puerto Rican composer, considered by many to be responsible for taking the genre of danza to its highest level. He composed over ...

. However, in Ponce that celebration had already been taking place since the nineteenth century.

Venue and characteristics

Chamber orchestras perform under the night lights of

Plaza Las Delicias Plaza Las Delicias is the main plaza in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The square is notable for its fountains and for the various monuments it contains. The historic Parque de Bombas and Ponce Cathedral buildings are located within the plaza, ...

, while neatly dressed and groomed couples dance to the tune of its "high society" musical form. Other venues for the week-long event are at Concha Acústica and

Parque Urbano Dora Colón Clavell Parque Urbano Dora Colón Clavell (English: ''Dora Colón Clavell Urban Park'') is a passive park in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The park is named after the mother of ex-governor of Puerto Rico and Ponce native, Rafael Hernández Colón. It opened on 9 ...

Events

The dance concerts celebrate the stately music of string

quartet In music, a quartet or quartette (, , , , ) is an ensemble of four singers or instrumental performers; or a musical composition for four voices and instruments. Classical String quartet In classical music, one of the most common combinations o ...

s "and the 19th century ballroom dance that was the hallmark of island sophistication during the days when elegance and manners were more important" than today. The event includes conferences,

s and a concert by string quartets, a parade, a danza competition, and demonstrations by senior couples who dress up as they used to in the 19th century. The main event is a danza competition where participants dance to the tune of the Ponce Municipal Band. The celebration honors the birthday of

, "the most prolific danza composer."

Typical program

Events, venues and times are typically as follows:''Regresa a Ponce la Semana de la Danza.''
La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2014. *Monday afternoon at

Opening ceremony typically including a flower offering at the statue of Juan Morel Campos and an opening talk about Juan Morel Campos and other famed Puerto Rican danza musicians. This ceremony is usually accompanied by a musical presentation by students from the Escuela Libre de Música and the

Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos (English: Juan Morel Campos Music Institute), formerly known as Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce (English: Ponce Free School of Music), is a musical arts institution in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is an institu ...

* Tuesday evening at the Teatro La Perla Annex ::Dialogue about the Puerto Rican danza with members of the

Banda Municipal de Ponce The Ponce Municipal Band (Spanish: ''Banda Municipal de Ponce''), also known as ''Centenaria Banda Municipal de Ponce'', is the band of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The band is the oldest continuously-performing band in the Caribbean ...

* Wednesday evening at the

::A speech by one of the directors of the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico commemorating the birthday of

. Often includes musical demonstrations by music instructors from music schools in Puerto Rico * Thursday evening at the Teatro La Perla Annex ::Danza music performance by a musical company group. * Friday evening at

Teatro La Perla Teatro La Perla is a historic theater in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Inaugurated in 1864, it is the second oldest theater of its kind in Puerto Rico, but "the largest and most historic in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean." The theater was name ...

::Show demonstrating the musical achievements by students at Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos * Saturday evening at Museo Francisco "Pancho" Coimbre ::Outdoors concert by students from Escuela Libre de Música and danza groups. * Sunday afternoon at Teatro La Perla ::Danza performance competition.

References

{{Coord, 18, 0, 00, N, 66, 37, 00, W, region:US-PR, display=title Carnivals in Puerto Rico May events Arts festivals in Puerto Rico Annual events in Puerto Rico Festivals in Ponce, Puerto Rico Classical music festivals in Puerto Rico 1972 establishments in Puerto Rico Folk festivals in Puerto Rico Music festivals established in 1972

History

Venue and characteristics

Events

Typical program

See also

References