Inside/outside lessons for contemporary dance: Contemporary dance in Guatemala and the challenge of raising an audience

This article is written from the perspective of the author’s 24-year experience as a choreographer in contemporary dance in Guatemala. It starts with an overview of traditional dances and their religious motives. It outlines the experience of presenting contemporary choreographic works in the streets and theatres. Some of the questions that arise during the creative process, as well as the ones that come up in the encounters with spectators are discussed. An experiment called ‘Three Voices for a Dance’, aimed at drawing audiences closer to dance, is described. In this activity, the experience of a dancer, the choreographer, and a spectator are designed as vocal choirs that accompany the dance. After the experience of eight performances, from 2010 to 2011, the author believes that a different response from the audience was observed when compared to other approaches.