Emotion took over the stage and also the hearts. After five months of intense rehearsals and dedication, the dancers of the Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano (South American Moinho Cultural Institute) shone brightly at the United Dance Festival 2025, held from September 5 to 7 at the Teatro Glauce Rocha, in Campo Grande. Between firm steps and eyes full of dreams, children and young people from Corumbá won over the jury and the audience, bringing home top awards and reaffirming the transformative power of art and dance on the Pantanal border.
The Cia Infanto-Juvenil (Youth Company) won the award for Best Children’s Choreography with its performance of Mirlitons. Among the individual highlights, dancer Marcos Souza took first place in the senior category with the classical solo Esmeralda, in addition to awards in other choreographies presented, and was recognized as Best Senior Dancer. Marcos also received a full scholarship to study in Goiânia.
“I loved taking part in this competition. It was wonderful. I saw groups and dancers with a lot of experience, the competition was very well organized, the judges were excellent. I really enjoyed dancing three choreographies and being recognized as best dancer. It still hasn’t sunk in, especially having also won the scholarship in Goiânia. I’m very happy, I worked hard to get here and I can only thank the teachers and professionals who helped me,” celebrated Marcos.
Another emotional moment was the debut of Danilo, only 11 years old, who left Corumbá for the first time to compete and won the title of Best Children’s Dancer, drawing applause and emotion from the audience and from his family, who traveled in force to support him.
Dancer Izabelle Paiva, of the Cia de Dança do Pantanal (Pantanal Dance Company), also shone, winning the award for Best Senior Dancer, in addition to special recognitions for Best Research and Innovation and Best Stage Performance with the solo Rito, premiered at the festival. “Taking part in United represents a moment of sharing and growth. It is symbolic to be in this space bringing my solo as a voice of representation, but also to accompany the institution’s children who are taking their first steps in a competition. Every achievement, individual or collective, strengthens dance as a place of encounter and belonging,” Izabelle noted.
For the artistic director and founder of Moinho Cultural, Márcia Rolon, the results reflect the institution’s collective commitment. “Congratulations Cia, congratulations dancers and staff! You are giving your all and showing how being a dancer inspires the little ones. This result is the fruit of serious, collective work, where every individual achievement makes everyone shine,” she celebrated.
Held by the Ministry of Culture, with associated production by the Associação Motirô and sponsorship from Emgea, the United Dance Festival brought together important names in dance, such as the principal dancer of the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, Cícero Gomes, and distributed one of the largest prize pools in the Center-West region, with R$ 50 thousand in prizes.
