Próximamente Festival – Latin America presents a powerful & surprising selection of performances in Brussels

Fifty-nine top artists from Latin America gather from 26/11 till 30/11 in KVS for the Próximamente festival. With this unique cooperative festival, we bring the reality and the energy of the Latin American performing arts to Brussels. A window on this region, opened by some of the most relevant festivals, theatres and artistic organisations from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil – with whom KVS has been working for a while.

Próximamente means ‘coming soon’, but at the same time refers to proximity. In this unique programme we transfer the reality and energy of the Latin American performing arts to Brussels. It’s a window on the region, through some of the most relevant festivals, theatres and organisations from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil – with whom KVS has been working for a while. ​​

​​Próximamente is not a festival like any other. Here, the various countries work together – like a cooperative. No partner imposes its choices on the others, as often happens, and the partnering countries each propose their favourite performances, selecting the pieces they consider the most engaging or typical of the region. KVS has the first honour of hosting this innovative festival in Brussels. With Rubios by Grupo Krapp, Dragón by Guillermo Calderón – who treated KVS to the gripping Mateluna last year –  and La Ira de Narciso by Sergio Blanco, the public will be treated to three unmissable works. Each one introduces you to a different side of Latin-American mastery: from dance to political intrigue to a mysterious journey through the self. ​​

​​But Próximamente is more than that. This five-day festival full of performances, showcases, readings and debates is a unique chance for professionals from all over Europe to meet up-and-coming talent from South America in one place. KVS will be hosting dramaturgs, arts programmers, critics and many other professionals to facilitate welcome cross-pollination between our two spheres. Some of these showcases will also be open to the public, letting you discover the most surprising artists conquering Latin-American stages today. ​​

Each one of the four countries with which KVS collaborates for the Próximamente festival (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil) is currently in transition. In the past few months, Brazil has frequently been highlighted in the media, mostly with regard to the bushfires in the Amazon forest and the current policies. The past few weeks and days, a wave of social unrest is flooding an increasing number of countries in the region. Numerous protests in Chile and Argentina made the news. Citizens want their voices to be heard and see no other way than to take to the streets.

In these worrying times of growing intolerance, it’s important that people meet, listen to each other and build bridges. During Próximamente, Latin America gets to speak for itself: through the work of its artists. How is life nowadays for the people of Latin America and how does it translate in the performing arts? How does the artist experience the roughening of society? How do artists keep up and what kind of impact do the arts experience from the current shift to the right?

The Próximamente festival shows the finest of the Latin American performing arts, five days long, on different stages of KVS. 

More info and the programme on the website of the KVS Theatre.