FIDANZ Festival of Dance, Santiago de Cuba
The Festival Internacional de Danza (FIDANZ) is a biennial dance festival held in Santiago de Cuba and celebrates the rich heritage of Cuban dance and folklore. It will be taking place from 25 to 29 April 2025 and is a very popular event in the city.
FIDANZ showcases a wide range of dance styles. Performances from renowned local groups such as Ballet Folklórico de Oriente, Ballet Folklórico Cutumba and Teatro de la Danza del Caribe can be experienced in the same week. Entry tickets to the performances are very cost effective and are always included in our April Cuba dance holidays.
As well as performances, the festival is publicly launched with a lively parade through the main streets of Santiago de Cuba. Dancers and musicians engage with the community with short pop up performances on the pedestrianised Enramadas Street and the main square of the city, Parque Cespedes. Local people hang out of their windows clapping and dancing along to the activities taking place below, and people of all ages love to join in. Read all about this and more in a blog written by our former colleague, Mara: My first trip to Santiago de Cuba
Finally, an important element of FIDANZ is the educational programme. This includes workshops, masterclasses and presentations providing opportunities for dancers, choreographers and other enthusiasts to delve deeper into the art form, to discuss ideas and to have practical classes with some of the top dance practitioners in the country.
A memorable event from FIDANZ 2023 was the festival’s dedication to Caledonia Worldwide and Ballet Folklórico Cutumba, in honor of their 25-year cultural collaboration. This milestone was celebrated with special performances and a recognition ceremony for our director Kath Bateman, highlighting the enduring partnership between Scottish and Cuban hearts and minds.
