Parkour will be performed in San Jose, Costa Rica this weekend.

The Municipality of San Jose is at it again, with another strong effort to bring arts into the capital city of San Jose. This weekend on Saturday and Sunday a series of “urban arts” performances will take place from 10am to 7pm in the Plaza de las Garantías, on the south side of the Social Security building. Performances will be held by rappers, acrobatic skaters, bikers, jugglers and more.

A special break dance competition will also be held to decide which dancers will represent Costa Rica in this year’s Central American Break Dance Competition. Dancers will be judged on their style and creativity as they twist and lurch their bodies to the beat.

Another feature of the event will be performances by “parkour” artists. Parkour originates in Europe and involves jumping, climbing and flipping over typical city obstacles such as balconies, walls, stairs and railings, in an impressive show of acrobatics and gymnastics ability.

For the more musically inclined, performances by national electronic artists and DJs will be held, as well as a freestyle rap battles between some of the city’s most popular rappers.

Also present at the festival will be a plastic art exhibit, a painting workshop and information stands representing some of the local universities.

The Festival comes just after the closing of the 9-day International Arts Festival in San Jose that brought thousands of Ticos and visitors alike to La Sabana park as well as several other venues in Alajuela, downtown San Jose and Puntarenas. The festival featured arts from China, and included acts, groups and solo artists from 20 countries including Retouramont from France, and Costa Rica’s own Mal Pais, an alternative group with revolutionary leanings.

Here is the schedule of events:

Saturday

Bicycle and skate acrobatics: 2pm-3pm

“Parkour” Urban Acrobatics: 3pm-4pm

Rap Battle of the MCs: 4pm-5pm

Break Dance Competition: 5:15pm-7pm

Sunday

Circus Acts (juggling, stilt walkers, unicycles, etc.) 2pm-3pm

Experimental Electronic Performance by Digital 80: 4:30pm-5:45pm

PRODA Fest, performances by 8 National DJs: 5pm-8pm

*Photo courtesy of Al Dia.

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Filed under: Costa Rican Music on April 22nd, 2008