Panama National Ballet to Perform in Playa del Carmen for First Time

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The Panama National Ballet will perform in Playa del Carmen for the first time next month as part of the municipal government’s push to expand cultural offerings and boost the city’s international profile.

The company will present its “Don Quixote” suite on April 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. at the Teatro de la Ciudad, announced the administration of Mayor Estefanía Mercado.

Eduardo Martínez, director of the Municipal Institute of Culture and Arts of Playa del Carmen (IMCAP), highlighted the collaboration with Panama’s Minister of Culture Maruja Herrera and the involvement of artistic director Sasa Adamovich, who leads the dance troupe.

Martínez noted that the Panama National Ballet has a 74-year history and has performed works including “Giselle,” “Carmen,” “Swan Lake,” and “Coppélia” in Russia, Cuba, Costa Rica, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Colombia. The company has upcoming performances scheduled in Brazil, Spain, and Japan.

During the current municipal administration, Martínez said, local families and visitors have enjoyed international events such as “Dance Cuba” by ballet master Lizt Alfonso, two editions of the International Theater Festival (FIC), and the International Book and Culture Fair (FILyC), helping establish Playa del Carmen as a cultural hub in the region.

He added that Panama’s Ministry of Culture, through its National Plan, has strengthened the social value of cultural heritage and promoted the development of artistic expressions in communities and neighborhoods.

Martínez highlighted the role of Sasa Adamovich, originally from Belgrade, Serbia, who was a principal dancer at the National Theater in his hometown before joining the Panama National Ballet. In 2001, he became the first director to stage “Swan Lake” in Panama, a production that will be revived this year at the National Theater.

As part of the performances, master Eduardo Blanco will direct a choreographic parade featuring students from ballet academies in Playa del Carmen, paying tribute to the Panama National Ballet.

Tickets for both performances are available through the platform tusboletos.mx.