Vicente Silva Sanjinés and Leticia Alvarado receive medals in the dance discipline

Choreographers and dancers Vicente Silva Sanjinés and Leticia Alvarado received the Bellas Artes Medals in the dance discipline for 2024 and 2023, respectively, for their careers dedicated to an artistic expression that has the capacity to transform humanity and because through their companies they have given vitality to dance art in the country.

In the Manuel M. Ponce Hall of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Lucina Jiménez, director of the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (Inbal), first presented the 2023 medal to the choreographer, dancer and teacher Leticia Alvarado, who in a special way remembered the teacher Guillermina Bravo.

“The Witchthe great Guillermina Bravo, whom we affectionately call her, told us: ‘Choreography is not done alone, but collectively.’ I thank all the people who, like her, have taught me great things.”

The director and founder of Tándem Dance Company also expressed feeling moved and happy for receiving the award. I remember, when I was very young in Monterrey, I heard about the great artists who studied and emerged from the National Institute of Fine Arts, enormous figures that I admired and considered unattainable. So it was inconceivable to imagine that today I could be here in this emblematic venue, receiving this invaluable award. One of the reasons that have undoubtedly made it possible are the extraordinary people who have accompanied me throughout my life..

In his speech, Alvarado recognized Inbal for being the generator of the future artists that we need and who sow hope at this moment to achieve the utopia of a world of peace and empathy.

Teacher Elisa Irene Rodríguez, who was present at the event, said that Leticia Alvarado has distinguished herself for the universes she creates and the intensity with which she looks at the world; she also mentioned that her musical knowledge is evident in the selection of works for her pieces.

You are a complete artist and as a response to all this path that you have forged, today you have all the prey that your dance conquered.Rodriguez added.

In the second part of the ceremony, the 2024 Bellas Artes Medal was awarded to Vicente Silva Sanjinés, who commented: I have to thank life for putting me in dance because I actually got there by accident, since I was studying theater, but to acquire stage mobility they sent me to study dance, I bought a top and some green tights and since I was skinny I looked like a dancer..

After recalling his beginnings in the art of body and movement, as well as his first steps as a choreographer on the university esplanades, Vicente Silva indicated that in his profession, teacher Cecilia Lugo has become his fairy godmother, because when he won the National Dance Award she was a judge and every time he meets her something good happens to him.

Karla Bohr, producer of Vicente Silva’s company and partner of the award winner, spoke about the choreographer’s career and the legacy he has left behind in 25 years as a teacher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. “We can imagine how many students have passed through in 50 semesters and have now become dance professionals.

The truth is, talking about maestro Vicente Silva is talking about the opportunity to dance, because he has always said that whoever can walk, can dance, respecting their individuality, and that we all have an open book to create and share all the essence that we are.

Before concluding the ceremony of the highest award given by the federal government, the director of Inbal said: Those who dance are living life in many ways, sometimes in an adverse way, sometimes against the current, but always looking for ways to build other universes..

She added that the medal is awarded to “those who have dedicated their lives to artistic expression, but also to those who have generously shared the journey they have taken to make dance an endless laboratory of artistic expression.

Today we are awarding the Bellas Artes Medals to two great figures who also took on the challenge of creating dance companies in a country where the rails are not always laid out for easy walking, which is doubly commendable.