THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 16, 1995 TAG: 9504140199
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES FRASCA, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Virginia Beach's courtship with a potential ``sister city'' in Costa Rica will include a performance of the Costarrican Folkloric Ballet next weekend at the Virginia Beach Pavilion Theater.
The performance, scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, will mark the first time the company has performed in Virginia.
The Sister City program was developed in the 1960s as a way to bridge cultural and economic differences between cities around the world. Under the program, the Virginia Beach Sister City Commission has established mutual relationships with Miyazaki, Japan; Moss, Norway; and Guatemala City, Guatemala. Also being considered are cities in China, Russia and the Philippines.
The 35 musicians and dancers of San Jose, Costa Rica, will take the audience on an artistic tour of their country, utilizing music and dances from the pre-Colombian traditions, through colonialism and the folklore of the provinces to modern dance.
``We take about a year to develop a friendship and to ensure that both towns are really interested,'' said commission member Angel Morales. ``Right now there's more than enough proof that both Virginia Beach and San Jose are very interested. We will probably have a final agreement within three or four months.''
Morales outlined future plans for cultural exchanges between the cities, including the establishment of sister schools to encourage correspondence between students. Classical guitar societies and Rotary Clubs in both locations have already established firm friendships, Morales said.
``The Folkloric Ballet is very well known in Costa Rica,'' Morales said. ``It is their goal to promote a positive relationship between Hispanics and the people of the United States. Their performance is graceful and lively, something you will not soon forget.''
Tickets, priced at $10 for general admission and $7 for students, are available at the Pavilion box office. For more information, call 481-3654. by CNB