A dance programme has been introduced at the Venezuelan Institute, located at 24 Windsor Avenue in Kingston.

Jamaicans now have the opportunity to learn Venezuelan folk dances, including the Joropo, free of cost. The Joropo is the national dance of Venezuela. It consists of 36 steps and is a dance for couples.

Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Luisa Gutierrez, made the announcement while speaking at the 44th annual graduation ceremony of the Institute, held last Thursday at the PCJ auditorium, in Kingston.

Gutierrez pointed out that classes are held on Wednesdays from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.

The institute also offers complimentary Spanish and guitar classes for children and adults. Persons interested in learning the dance can contact the Venezuelan Institute at 631-3489 or email ivccjamaica@gmail.com

“We want to show how the people in Venezuela dance Joropo. It is one of our folklore dances with the drums,” she said, adding that participants will learn other Latin dances, such as the meringue and salsa.

Earlier in the ceremony, which was conducted entirely in the Spanish, 60 students received diplomas for having completed the required levels in the Spanish Programme —basic, intermediate, advance, and superior. Additionally, six children and four adults received certificates for their participation in the guitar class.

The chargé d’ affaires said that the programmes at the institute contribute to the learning of the Spanish language and the exchange of the Latin American and Caribbean culture.

She argued that the graduating students are now in a better position “to make new friends and to improve their job performance”.

She urged Jamaicans to visit the Simon Bolivar Cultural Centre in downtown Kingston and to participate in its programmes.

“It is not only about Venezuela. It is for all the Caribbean people,” she said.

Gutierrez said the centre, a gift to Jamaica from the Government and people of Venezuela, is named in honour of South American liberator and Venezuelan revolutionary Leader, Simón Bolívar who, while exiled in Jamaica 200 years ago, wrote the famous ‘Carta de Jamaica’ or Letter of Jamaica.

— JIS