"One gesture, a thousand words" from Havana, Cuba

The mime art day "One gesture, a thousand words" will be held from December 13 to 17 in Havana, Cuba, under the theme "Diversity, inclusion, and integration."

We talked about this event with Daniel, leader of Gesto Teatro, the event's host group.

—How did the idea of holding this Festival come about?

—The idea comes from the Gesto Teatro group, which is its main organizer, as a way to share our anniversary, which we celebrate in the month of December, and we like to do it with friends, artists, who are also involved in the mime theater movement and then we find a common ground to share our thoughts through conferences, workshops, master classes, staging...

“We even have a show so that all the creators can present their characters, give them life, characterize them in a very fun and happy conga that will travel along Línea Street and, finally, always leave our doors open for another edition where others may join us: friends, more people wanting to create and rescue the genre, because that is also where "A gesture, a thousand words" is born, from the need to rescue and promote mime.”

—What will this edition be dedicated to?

—This year the event will be approached from the theme "Diversity, inclusion, integration," precisely because ours is a totally inclusive art, which transcends language barriers. This year, we seek to unite all kinds of people to celebrate in style the new goals and proposals of this art expression in Cuba, the contributions that teachers with new ideas and techniques bring to improve our training and thus update the level of the genre in our country, as well as the level of our group, made of young exponents of pantomime on the island.

—What particularities does this edition have?

—This edition, in particular, treasures the invitation of a super important Ecuadorian teacher, Martín Breña, who is going to introduce for the first time in Cuba the technique of dramatic body mime, which is history in the culture of mime and the performing arts in the country and, surely, it will lay the foundations for new technical projections. It will have a notable impact on the Cuban style of mime.

"Of course, the Festival will take place in several municipalities of Havana. Centro Habana, Plaza and Playa were selected so that, simultaneously, a series of activities will take place and they will make up a broad and quite attractive movement for the general public."

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff