At Xcaret Park`s Esplanade

Kiimal óol saastal Theater troupe presents El Encuentro [The Meeting]

** Community Theater from José María Morelos County

By Alejandra Flores

There is no single belief regarding souls in the communities in the interior of the State of Quintana Roo but rather a variety of religions and even some of them do not believe that the Pixano`ob (souls) come to Earth on the Day of the Dead.  In some Mayan communities, however, eight days after receiving the dearly departed (on November 1st and 2nd), they celebrate a Bix, the last supper offered to these souls.  The conflict amongst the members of a family about offering this final meal to the departed is the theme of El Encuentro, created by the Kiimal óol saastal (meaning "Happy Dawn") Community Theater troupe.

As special guests of the 3rd Life and Death Traditions Festival, Xcaret 2008, the members of Kiimal óol saastal explained that troupe—with ten years of experience—decided to call itself Happy Dawn to transmit a message that promotes health, culture and respect for traditions, "just like the dawn transmit many things: birds singing, roosters crowing, children happily at play—it is the beginning, light…it is Hope."

The story, presented in the Mayan language, was born of a theater workshop sponsored by Xcaret Park, in conjunction with Maestro Juan Carlos Durán López and the Instituto de Cultura de Yucatán (Yucatan Cultural Institute), in several Mayan communities of Quintana Roo in an effort to provide professional theater arts and creative tools to local theater groups.

El Encuentro, the story of two brothers in conflict over preparations for Bix, will be presented on Xcaret Park`s Esplanade on November 1st and 2nd.