La Colmenita in
Argentina
WITH three projects, two in locations within the
province of Buenos Aires and one in the capital, the
Cuban children’s theater company La Colmenita begins
its tour throughout Argentina, with hopes of
extending its work to other countries in the region.
"Hence the name, La Colmenita del Sur," explained
Luciano Burgos, coordinator of the three Argentine
projects, speaking with Prensa Latina, an
endeavor intended to support the full development of
children and youth, promoting human values through
artistic creation.
Burgos, whose son Federico joined the original
troupe in Havana at just five years of age, and now
one of the principal figures in La Colmenita del
Sur, worked as a producer for the organization
founded and directed by Carlos Alberto Cremata.
Returning to Argentina in July, 2011, he said, "I
arrived with the idea of duplicating and structuring
La Colmenita outside of Cuba and secured an
agreement with the national Culture Secretariat to
create two groups, one in
Lanús and another in Hurlingham," both in Buenos
Aires province.
This government supported program is called Las
Colmenitas de los Barrios, Burgos explained, and
clarified that in April he launched La Colmenita del
Sur, with the support of Casa Cuba, a friendship
with Cuba organization, which offered the troupe
rehearsal space.
"This group helped consolidate the project which
Las Colmenitas de los Barrios is carrying out in
Lanús and Hurlingham," explained the activist, who
has also had the experience of developing a project
based on the same principles in Chiapas, Mexico.
Burgos reported that he first wanted to
strengthen the project in Argentina, before
extending the effort further, although the concept
is regional, to include
Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia.
One of the humanitarian goals of La Colmenita is
precisely the integration of boys and girls and
teenagers, who share both common and special
educational needs in appreciating art. The company
therefore looks to create unity within diversity and
promote personal growth.
Another objective is the development of
children’s imagination, and that of the collective,
with the best of universal children’s literature and
popular folklore,
taking the results onto the stage, linked to
community work, as well as creating opportunities
for active participation for society’s children and
adolescents.
One of the company’s values is to put art at the
service of solidarity and equality, going beyond
individual satisfaction, according to Burgos.
La Colmenita del Sur had its first Argentine
performance at the Exposición Tecnópolis, with La
Cucarachita Martina, also scheduled for the
Margarita Xirgu Theater, within the capital city
neighborhood of San Telmo.
