Introduction
The International Dance Festival, Danzatlán, led by renowned Mexican ballerina Elisa Carrillo Cabrera, will host its most extensive version in Mexico State despite a 30% budget cut. The festival, which will take place from August 5 to 10 in 32 municipalities, will feature over 70 artists from ballet classical, contemporary, and folk dance traditions hailing from countries like Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Japan, the United States, and Mexico.
Key Events and Participants
Danzatlán will present two international gala events, “Elisa y Amigos,” at the Teatro Morelos in Toluca and the Centro Cultural Mexiquense Bicentenario in Texcoco. These galas will showcase performances by first soloists Tatiana Melnik and Mitomi Kiyota from the Ballet Nacional de Hungría, first soloist Oksana Maslova and demisolista Yuval Cohen from the Ballet de Filadelfia, as well as first soloist David Mota Soares and solist Alexei Orlenco from StaatsBallett Berlin.
Elisa Carrillo, a celebrated Mexican dancer who won the prestigious Benois de la Danse award in 2018, will conduct masterclasses at the Conservatorio de Música del Estado de México, while Russian dancer Mikhail Kaniskin will lead a masterclass in Texcoco with international guests.
The festival will kick off with a meeting between Elisa Carrillo and women from various indigenous communities in Mexico State. The festival will conclude with a mass ballet class in Tlatelolco Plaza, expected to gather between 500 and 700 participants learning from Carrillo herself.
Budget Concerns and Response
Due to the ambitious nature of this edition, officials from the Mexico State Cultural and Tourism Department were questioned about the budget for 2025. The state government has allocated four million pesos for this year’s festival, which is a significant reduction from the six million pesos allocated for 2024 and approximately seven and a half million pesos for 2023.
Nelly Carrasco, the head of the cultural department, explained that despite the budget cut, Danzatlán will expand to more municipalities. She emphasized that they would have more activities, though with less financial resources, the festival will be more impactful. “We will do much more with less,” she stated.
Zulema Sánchez Lugo, the General Director of Cultural Heritage and Services in the Valley of Mexico, highlighted that cultural festivals are considered successful with ample resources. However, she pointed out that community and municipal support has increased, compensating for the decrease in state resources.
Elisa Carrillo defended the budget cuts, stating that they are a global trend and not unique to Mexico. She assured that the festival will continue growing, reaching new locations and adapting to current circumstances.
Recent Accomplishments
This year, Elisa Carrillo was appointed director of the prestigious John Cranko Schule in Stuttgart, Germany, one of the most esteemed dance institutions in the country. She will assume her new role in 2026, becoming the first Mexican to lead a renowned dance educational institution in Germany.
Final Remarks
Reasignment of Resources:
Towards the end of the press conference, the Mexico State Cultural Secretary clarified that there was no reduction in cultural funding but rather a reallocation. The Danzatlán festival will continue with its allocated budget, as the state remains committed to cultural promotion through various events and festivals.
She emphasized that the goal is to ensure broader access to culture for all, without a decrease in support. Instead, there will be an increase in cultural activities targeting diverse sectors.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Is the Danzatlán festival receiving less funding this year?
A: Yes, the budget has been reduced to four million pesos from six million in 2024 and approximately seven and a half million in 2023.
- Q: How will the festival adapt to the budget cuts?
A: The festival will expand to more municipalities, relying on community and municipal support to compensate for the decrease in state resources.
- Q: What are Elisa Carrillo’s recent accomplishments?
A: Elisa Carrillo was appointed director of the prestigious John Cranko Schule in Stuttgart, Germany, effective 2026, making her the first Mexican to lead such a renowned dance educational institution in the country.
- Q: What is the main goal of the reallocation of resources?
A: The primary objective is to ensure broader access to culture for all, without decreasing support. Instead, there will be an increase in cultural activities targeting diverse sectors.
