In an atmosphere filled with the purity of our culture, Guci Dancers Aruba held a grand and successful event, marking the celebration of their 21st anniversary. During this special occasion, a total of seven new Kings and Queens were crowned, who now bear the responsibility of representing and preserving our folklore, song, dance, and theater on our island.
The night was packed with emotion, pride, and a high-level cultural display, featuring songs, dances, and theater shows where each performance touched upon important topics of our island that we must not forget.
The Crownings: A Journey of Evolution
Director and organizer of Guci Dancers Aruba, Rene Kock, explained how the selection and categories have evolved over the years:
“This is something that is done every year. This year we are already celebrating 5 years of sending a Cultural Queen. Last year it changed to become the Folklore Queen, so this year is the second year of Folklore. That is why this year I crowned my Cultural Queens, but I also crowned my Folklore Queens who will go on to compete in August right here at the Centro di Bario Brazil.” — Rene Kock, Director of Guci Dancers Aruba
In addition to the cultural and folklore queens, the night included the crowning of:
Carnival Queen: Including the Children’s category, Great Queen (Reina Grandi), and Mrs. Carnival (Señora Carnaval), who will also compete in the upcoming Carnival.
Culture King: A special title that was awarded for the second consecutive year, this time to a total of seven different Kings and Queens, from children to adults, who will represent Guci Dancers and Aruba for the year 2026.
Concern over the Lack of Youth in Culture
Despite the success of the event, the organizers took advantage of the platform to express deep concern regarding the lack of youth participation in cultural activities.
The goal of these crownings is not simply to wear a crown or for the “fame” (gara), but to rescue the values of our country and stimulate a love for our traditions. It was pointed out that there is a scarcity of youth and children with an interest in our folklore, which is becoming a worrisome topic for the future of our cultural identity. If this situation continues, our folklore could suffer greatly within ten years.
Through these titles, the aim is for these kings and queens to serve as role models for others, thereby carrying the cultural message forward and inspiring future generations.
A Year of Great Promise and Surprises
Guci Dancers started this year exceptionally well, having already sent two queens at the beginning of January: Mrs. Carnival won Second Runner-up and the Children’s Queen won First Runner-up.
For the upcoming competitions in August, the organizer teased that there are many surprises on the way: “Our Folklore Queens who will compete in August are strong. There are singers, people from the beauty world, and people who have experience and culture in their hearts. Those are the qualities I look for.”
The night at Centro di Bario Brazil closed with a feeling of immense gratitude and pride, reaffirming that the main goal of this effort is to showcase the honor and deep love held for the culture and folklore of Aruba.
