Building on the rich and diverse local traditions of folk dance in Latin America, Areguá (Paraguay), a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2019, organized its first International Dance Festival of Creative Cities.
Held in a virtual format, the festival was broadcasted on the evening of 30 December, with the aim of promoting and highlighting the diversity and richness of the popular dance tradition, involving other Creative Cities of Crafts and Folk Art from Latin America, namely San Cristóbal de Las Casas (Mexico) and Ayacucho (Peru).
During the Dance Festival, various dance performances were given by the "Chiapan" – Children and Youth Folkloric Ballet of San Cristóbal de las Casas, Ayacucho Folkloric Ballet, the Municipal Ballet of Areguá and its "M Centro de arte". Each of the mayors and the focal points of the Creative Cities involved also delivered a message of greeting.
Through the organization of this event, Areguá has fostered the exchange between different cultural traditions and has contributed to the UCCN’s mission of strengthening cooperation between cities that have recognized culture and creativity as strategic factors for building a sustainable future.