ExploreDance

I was looking for something to do on a Thursday night. The list of tour options included one that included a dance performance.

It turned out that this performance was held at the same place as the banquet the previous night and featured many of the same performers. The show this time was held on a stage.

The show was mostly a review of a wide range of Costa Rican dance styles, from the traditional to styles you can see in San Jose's dance clubs today. Part of the narration was in Spanish and part was in English. You will miss some of the message if you don't speak Spanish, but not enough to matter.

The performances at Pueblo Antiguo benefit the Costa Rican Children's Hospital. The venue is a recreation of traditional Costa Rican buildings and also has an amusement park with rides.

I thought the performances were engaging. The dances included those native to Costa Rica, as well as some, such as Samba, that are not. The performers tended to be at their best during the Costa Rican dances, but the whole show was worth watching. There was even a little modern dance/aerial work.

At one point, the dancers led members of the audience on to the stage to dance with them in the Samba section. I happen to know a little Brazilian Samba, so I did my best to keep up with the professionals. The woman who dragged me on stage even recognized me from the night before.

After the performance, we went to another building where we had dinner. One performer stayed with the group and served in the role of entertainment director. If the entertainment at Pueblo Antiguo is at all representative of Costa Rica, when you arrive in Costa Rica, be prepared to think you have landed in Milwaukee. Costa Ricans, at least based on my limited experience, seem to be very into the Polka and the Chicken dance, as well as Latin dance styles. It made for an entertaining night, to say the least.