Christina Lyon, founder and artistic director of Gala de Danza, shares the story behind the international performing arts platform and its upcoming debut in Egypt.
Founded in 2013, Gala de Danza was created to make world-class performing arts more accessible while giving young dancers the opportunity to perform alongside internationally acclaimed artists. For this year’s edition in Egypt, 100 young performers from dance schools across Cairo will take part in a production of Swan Lake alongside principal dancers and guest artists from around the world.
Lyon explains why working with the local community has always been at the heart of Gala de Danza, and how the platform aims to connect the next generation of performers with established artists. She also reflects on the importance of exposing young people to the arts and creating opportunities for them to experience professional training and live performance.
Gala de Danza will be presented by GEM Experience on November 5 at the Grand Egyptian Museum, bringing ballet, contemporary dance, music, visual arts and other creative disciplines together in one setting.
For Lyon, performing at the Grand Egyptian Museum is particularly meaningful. She describes the venue as an extraordinary opportunity to transform a space rooted in history and heritage into a dynamic environment for live performance.
She also discusses why Swan Lake was chosen for the young dancers, describing it as one of the defining works of the classical ballet repertoire and an important experience for the next generation of performers.
At its core, Gala de Danza is about the energy of live performance, the connection between artists and audiences, and the discipline behind the arts. Lyon hopes audiences leave the experience feeling inspired, regardless of their background or familiarity with the performing arts.
Watch the full interview to hear Christina Lyon discuss Gala de Danza’s journey to Egypt, the young dancers taking part, and what audiences can expect from this special performance at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
