For a stronger and more united community | Blog medallobaila.com

The Broken Dream of Elite Festival: A Story That Needs to Be Told

This is the story of Daniel, a salsa and bachata professional, and dozens of artists like Jorge el Bomba, Gero, and Migle who saw their dreams turn into a nightmare during the Elite Festival in Pereira, Colombia—an event that promised to be a celebration of Latin American talent but ended up being a painful lesson about the vulnerability of our community.

The Web of Lies That Trapped Great Talents

What seemed to be a festival with the potential to put Pereira on the global dance map turned out to be an elaborate scam scheme. Daniel Maiorano, who trusted organizer Edgar Áñez (@soybachatafever) after being his student during the pandemic, narrates how the latter wove a complex web of deception:

"Edgar is a person who has managed to weave a web of lies... organizing the event two years in a row at a loss," Daniel recounts with evident frustration. "How is it that, on Friday when the event starts, you don't know that you don't have $9,000 dollars to cover the expenses?"

The indignation in his words reflects not only the economic loss but also the damage to a cultural ecosystem that many are trying to professionalize with dedication and care.

Beyond Money: The Human Cost of Deception

The numbers are alarming, but behind each figure are devastating personal stories. International and national artists who paid for airline tickets and accommodations with the promise of reimbursement that never came, and Colombian talents who saw their hopes vanish.

"There are people in Latin America who have sold motorcycles, who have sold things to help this man... and he has treated them poorly," explains Daniel, whose voice breaks when narrating how he himself had to give money to support the second edition of this event, which did not have sufficient funds to pay the artists.

The economic inequality between Europe and Latin America made the blow even harder for many of those affected, turning what should have been a professional opportunity into a personal financial crisis.

The Vulnerability of a Community Without Protection

This incident has exposed a concerning reality: the legal vulnerability faced by the dance artistic community.

"It makes us reflect on how unprotected we are at the legal level... we don't have a union, and when you make a complaint, the police don't consider it relevant or important," Daniel points out, highlighting a structural problem that transcends this particular case.

Without formal contracts to support agreements, many artists were left without tools to defend themselves. A painful lesson that Daniel doesn't hesitate to share: "You must have a work contract that validates the deal you're closing with the organizer."

Colombia: A Talent That Deserves Better Luck

It is crucial to emphasize that this situation does not reflect the reality of the Colombian dance community or its professionalism. In fact, Daniel emphasizes:

"Colombia has absolutely nothing to do with this. It's simply the country where, unfortunately, the festival took place... There are spectacular and super well-organized events. In fact, Colombia's talent was what led me to lend money to this man."

Colombia continues to be a hotbed of extraordinary talents and a market with immense potential for professional dance. This story should not tarnish the reputation of our dancers or the many honest organizers who work tirelessly to elevate the level of dance events in the country.

From Crisis to Solidarity: A Community Response

Faced with adversity, the community has responded with concrete actions. Those affected are organizing a GoFundMe to help first those facing the most critical situations, especially those from Latin American countries.

This solidarity response demonstrates that, even in the darkest moments, the community spirit prevails. As Daniel says, beyond generating controversy, these denunciations seek to "raise awareness and ensure these people don't work again, as we must take care of the people who enter our community."

The Path Toward a Stronger and Protected Community

This painful experience leaves us with invaluable lessons:

1. The Need for Formalization: Clear contracts that protect all involved, even in small events.
2. Vigilant Community: We must take care of each other, sharing information about reliable organizers and warning about negative experiences.
3. Collective Organization: The call to create unions or associations that defend the rights of dancers and artists.
4. Solidarity in Action: Supporting those who have been affected, demonstrating that dance is much more than competition; it's family.

A Call to Action

Dance in Colombia is resilient. Each step, each drop of sweat in rehearsals, each performance that moves the audience, reminds us why we love this artistic expression.

Let's not allow experiences like this to stop us. On the contrary, let them drive us to create a stronger, more united, and better protected community.

If you are a dancer, organizer, teacher, or simply a dance lover, this is the moment to raise your voice, to lend your hand to those who need it, and to contribute to building an ecosystem where art can flourish with dignity and respect.

The rhythm of our passion is stronger than any obstacle. Let's keep dancing, Colombia! But let's do it with the security of a community that protects, respects, and elevates each other.

Would you like to see the video of Daniel Maiorano? Link