October 30, 2008, Tokyo – A contemporary dance company in Colombia, El Colegio del Cuerpo (College of the Body) held its first performances in Tokyo on Oct.29th and 30th as part of the 100-year anniversary celebrations of the Japan-Colombia Friendship.

Established in 1997, El Colegio del Cuerpois an artistic and educational center located in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia that provides training in professional dancing and targets children living in disadvantaged communities in Cartagena, Colombia.

The World Bank, through the contribution of the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF), tries to support El Colegio del Cuerpo’s activites as an innovative social program to help fragile community through artistic education.

During the beginning of the second day of the performances (October 30), a promotional type video was screened to showcase the background of Japan – Colombia relations, economic ties, and cultural exchanges – with remarks by Colombia’s Vice President Francisco Santos, who also expressed thanks to the World Bank and the Japanese government for the assistance at the El Colegio del Cuerpo program. After that, 9 Colombian dancers and 7 Japanese dancers performed “Quarted for the End of Body”, inspired by Olivier Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time”.

After the performances were finished, Prince and Princess Hitachi were in attendance for a reception, where World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific James Adams, representing the World Bank, gave brief remarks on World Bank/Japan partnership through JSDF.