About Ballet Esmeraldas de Colombia
Ballet Esmeraldas de Colombia is a non-profit folkloric group from Ottawa that has shared traditional Colombian dance in Canada's capital region since 1991. Founded and directed by Socorro Vásquez, it has spent nearly four decades presenting Colombia's folklore on stages across Ottawa and Gatineau.
Its repertoire spans the dances of the Barranquilla Carnival and of Colombia's regions — cumbia, mapalé, danza de negros and guacherna — performed in the colourful costumes that define Colombian folkloric tradition.
Besides performing at the capital's multicultural festivals, the ballet offers free dance classes and takes part in educational activities about Colombian heritage, and it has been nominated in the folk-cultural dance category of the Canadian Latin Awards.
Its repertoire spans the dances of the Barranquilla Carnival and of Colombia's regions — cumbia, mapalé, danza de negros and guacherna — performed in the colourful costumes that define Colombian folkloric tradition.
Besides performing at the capital's multicultural festivals, the ballet offers free dance classes and takes part in educational activities about Colombian heritage, and it has been nominated in the folk-cultural dance category of the Canadian Latin Awards.