International Circus Festival will be held in Cuba

The National Center of Art Schools (Cneart) today held a press conference for the 7th International Circus Festival "Pista Joven", to be held from February 20 to 23.

The National Circus School, the main organizer of the annual event, invited artists from all over the world between 14 and 20 years old and teachers with the aim of presenting their skills, knowledge and talent.

The meeting will also allow for increased academic and artistic development, in addition to promoting creativity and critical thinking.

This year 32 young people will compete in all circus categories except magic and clown, among them students from Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Guatemala, the latter country which will be presented for the first time in the contest.

For three days, competitors will be able to exchange with Cuban and international specialists in the field, in conferences, workshops and master classes related to the general training of the circus artist.

Our festival is not only competitive, but also has an academic component, where participants will be able to see new forms of teaching this specialty, Emilio Sobrino, director of the National Circus School, explained to Prensa Latina.

It is a moment of international exchange between the academies and its realization we want to achieve a network of Latin American circus schools, where we can be integrated and exchange experiences, he added.

The judges, chaired by Sergio Suárez, Cneart’s national methodologist, will evaluate the participants according to their artistic and technical level, not by specialty.

The jury is made up of Milagro Luis Alonso, director of the National Circus Company Circuba; Belkis Cauce, general director of Carpa Azul; José Miguel Pacios, producer of the National Circus Company; and Hilda Venero, 2023 National Circus Award, to whom the festival is dedicated.

The international representation of the court will be led by Niky García, director of the National Circus School of Venezuela, and Karen Bernal, director of the Ilaii Performing Arts company of Mexico.

In the case of Cuba, not only members of the art schools will participate, but also students from the circus projects of the country’s Houses of Culture and graduates who remain within the required age range.

The 7th Edition of “Pista Joven” will be dedicated to Hilda Venero de la Paz, National Circus Prize 2023, and the venues will be the National Circus School and the Trompoloco Tent, located in the capital.

The public will be able to enjoy the works in competition and the presentations of guest artists on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of this month at 5:00 p.m., local time, in the Trompoloco Tent.