The National Dance Company of Costa Rica

Published on 5 September 2022

The National Dance Company of Costa Rica promotes dance as an art form and also promotes the importance of dance in Costa Rican society.

The National Dance Company (CND) is a professional artistic group of contemporary dance, was created on July 10, 1979, under the direction of the founding director Maestra Elena Gutiérrez, who had the vision of expressing the need to professionalize dance through a professional artistic company representative of the Government of Costa Rica. In other words, the idea was to create a company that would promote the importance of dance for society and also the idea that dance is an art form.

In 2000, it became an artistic program of the Teatro Popular Melico Salazar, both under the Ministry of Culture and Youth of Costa Rica.

The National Dance Company has been promoting this idea for over 30 years and has performed throughout Latin America, Europe, Asia and North America. The company has performed at many prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.

Historical Context of the National Dance Company

The National Dance Company (CND) was created on July 10, 1979; it is a professional contemporary dance art institution representing the Government of Costa Rica. In 2000, it became an artistic program of the Teatro Popular Melico Salazar, both under the Ministry of Culture and Youth of Costa Rica. It has obtained several national recognitions and awards. This institution has developed a very important role in the history of national dance with the aim of producing, expanding, managing and researching contemporary dance. They are the only dance group in Costa Rica and have a long and distinguished history of presenting national and international dance works.

The National Dance Company’s mission is to promote, preserve and develop the art of dance in Costa Rica by providing a space for artistic expression, training and research. The work of the company seeks to contribute to the cultural development of society through creation, interpretation, education, dissemination, preservation and research.

In fact, this has been an important part of Costa Rican culture for over 60 years.

CND Choreographies

One of its main objectives was to create a style of dance capable of expressing the identity of Costa Ricans. The National Dance Company is an outstanding exponent and promoter of Costa Rican folklore and culture through the art, technique and discipline of classical ballet, folkloric, modern and contemporary dance. It is dedicated to promoting national culture through dance.

Uno de sus principales objetivos era crear un estilo de danza capaz de expresar la identidad de los costarricenses. La Compañía Nacional de Danza es un destacado exponente y promotor del folclore y la cultura costarricense a través del arte, la técnica y la disciplina del ballet clásico, la danza folclórica, moderna y contemporánea. Se dedica a promover la cultura nacional a través de la danza.

In summary

The national dance company is an outstanding exponent and promoter of Costa Rican folklore and culture through the art, technique and discipline of classical ballet, folkloric, modern and contemporary dance.
The National Dance Company has been promoting this idea for over 30 years and has performed throughout Latin America, Europe, Asia and North America.

Author

Zelda Walters for Sensorial Sunsets