The seventh version of the bienal de danza has just begun, featuring 500 dancers and international guests. This event highlights dedication to art and culture amid debates on its true nature.
In an opinion column published on November 13, 2025, Leonardo Medina Patiño applauds the launch of the seventh version of the bienal de danza, which includes 500 dancers and international guests. Reflecting on the distinction between culture and entertainment, Medina Patiño references Mario Vargas Llosa's book 'La civilización del espectáculo' to argue that culture demands reflection and effort, not mere immediate spectacle.
'The bienal de danza that has just started its seventh version, with 500 dancers and international guests,' writes Medina Patiño, emphasizing its value as a gathering of knowledge and art. He contrasts this with the preference for superficial events and advocates for in-depth initiatives in Cali as a special cultural district. He also notes the strength of local festivals like the Petronio, the salsa festival—immaterial heritage of the Nation—and the new classical music festival during Semana Santa.
Medina Patiño urges prioritizing deep culture over the spectacular, suggesting Cali deserves an art bienal similar to those in Bogotá and Medellín. In a personal postscript, he mourns the passing of maestro Cedeño, with whom he occasionally shared drinks in the city.