Dance produced on the border between Brazil and Bolivia once again gained prominence at one of the field’s leading events in Brazil’s Central-West region. Participants from the Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano (South American Moinho Cultural Institute) took first place, along with special honors and a full study scholarship, during the 10th edition of the Festival Internacional Prêmio Onça Pintada (International Jaguar Award Festival), held in Campo Grande (MS).

Over four days of programming, Moinho Cultural took part in the event with a delegation of 39 participants and a team of seven professionals, including teachers and support staff.

Bringing this delegation from Corumbá to Campo Grande required a collective effort: the trip had the support of LHG Mining, a partner of the Institute, with Andorinha as the transportation company. Donations from partners and individuals, along with the mobilization of the participants’ own families, also helped make their participation possible.

Among the highlights of the participation is the choreography “Rasgo”, by Kelven Alex, which won 1st place in the Adult Contemporary Ensemble category. The Institute also reached the top of the podium in several categories. In the women’s contemporary solo, Izabelle Paiva secured 1st place with “Rito”.

In the neoclassical solo, Marcos Souza won 1st place with his performance of “Espectro”, choreographed by Agustín Salcedo. In the men’s free-style solo, Marcos Souza returned to the top of the podium with “Ecos do Invisível”, choreographed by Kelven Alex.

In the Male Solo Repertoire Ballet category, Pedro Barros won 3rd place with the variation “Tchaikovsky”. The junior pas de trois “Mirlitons” took 1st place in its category, adding to the group’s list of achievements at the festival.

Another notable result was the domination of the podium in the Junior Contemporary Dance category. Moinho Cultural took the top three places with the choreographies “Trakinagem”, by Izabelle Paiva, in first place; “Verão”, also by Izabelle Paiva, in second; and “Eco”, by Agustín Salcedo, in third.

In addition to the awards, the participants received important individual honors. Izabelle Paiva was nominated for the festival’s Best Female Dancer award, while Marcos Souza was nominated for Best Male Dancer. The choreography “Trakinagem”, by Izabelle Paiva, was also recognized as the festival’s Featured Choreography.

The work developed by Moinho Cultural’s artistic team also received special recognition. Agustín Salcedo was named the festival’s Best Choreographer. Marcos Souza was awarded a full study scholarship to the headquarters of Grupo Raça, in São Paulo (SP), where he will be able to continue his artistic training until April 2027.

For Kelven Alex, the achievement represents the result of work built collectively throughout the year. “This is my second year at the Festival Internacional Prêmio Onça Pintada, and it has been very rewarding both as a choreographer and as a person. Being able to bring the participants to live this experience, which I also lived when I was younger, has a special meaning. First place is the result of their dedication, the support of their families, and the work developed by the entire team. More than a competition, it is an experience they carry with them for life”, he emphasizes.

The coordinator of the Núcleo de Dança (Dance Division) at the Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano, Aline Espírito Santo, stresses that the participation goes beyond the results achieved on stage. “We are very happy with all the experiences we had during these four days of the festival. We came with 39 participants and a team of seven adults, including teachers and support professionals. Each performance, each exchange, and each lesson further strengthens the training process we develop through art”, she says.

This year’s edition was directed by Neide Garrido and featured Adriana Assaf, Denise Siqueira, Gustavo Lopes, Milena Gabriela, and Rafael Gomes as judges.