La Orotava’s Cervantine Conferences Celebrate Decade of Poetic Improvisation
The tenth anniversary of the Cervantine Conferences in La Orotava celebrates the art of espinela poetry through a series of improvisational performances and educational workshops led by expert Alexis Díaz Pimienta.
The espinela—a ten-line poetic structure that has been a cornerstone of Hispanic poetry since the Golden Age—is once again taking center stage in the Canary Islands. The Cervantine Conferences of La Orotava are celebrating their tenth anniversary this year, and to mark the milestone, the event is focusing on the art of poetic improvisation.
Titled "The X in Tenths," the program begins this weekend at the San Agustín House of Culture with a series of events that go beyond traditional academic lectures. The guest of honor is Alexis Díaz Pimienta, a writer and expert in repentismo (improvisational poetry), who will lead two sessions on April 10 and 11.
The first event, this Friday at 8:30 p.m., is a concert that blends the traditional punto cubano and controversia with "neo-repentismo." This modern approach combines improvisation with contemporary music and performance. It aims to break down the barrier between performer and audience, inviting spectators to provide the themes that the artists—including Anamaris Gil Méndez and Luzmila Valerón Sánchez—will use to create verses in real time.
On Saturday at 12:00 p.m., the focus shifts to education with a workshop titled "You learn to improvise by improvising." Based on a teaching method Díaz Pimienta has refined over 30 years, the session uses games and creative exercises to teach rhythm and mental agility to people of all ages. Those interested in attending must register in advance by emailing alisiosasociacion@gmail.com.
These conferences are significant not only for their longevity but for their role in preserving a cultural tradition that has long served as a bridge between the Canary Islands and Latin America. The full program, which runs until May 16, is available at jornadascervantinas.es, as well as through the La Orotava City Council’s website and social media channels. All activities this weekend are free, reflecting the municipality's ongoing commitment to promoting classical literature and its most vibrant, living forms.