No. 14 - Its Gran Canaria Magazine

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GET TO KNOW GRAN CANARIA I CONOCE GRAN CANARIA Nº 14
An ocean of dreams at Villa de Moya
Moya is a municipality boasting strong cultural
roots. Prior to the conquest of Gran Canaria, it
was home to the noble aboriginal warlord Doramas,
and sites such as La Montañeta or the Doramas
Caves themselves still preserve important
archaeological remains from pre-Hispanic times.
The 15th century carving of Our Lady of Candelaria,
patron saint of the town, is located in the church
that bears the name of the virgin and the parish
church, created with the reading of the Synod by
Bishop Fernando Vázquez de Arce in 1515. In this
emblematic and already iconic religious building,
built in 1943 on the site of the original hermitage,
there is also a carving of St. Jude Thaddeus, the
work by famous Canary sculptor José Luján Pérez
in 1803, which forms part of the valuable collection
of sacred art that can also be visited in the town
of Moya. There are also several museums that reflect
the interest that the town has always aroused
among writers, painters and artists as a place of
inspiration.
The cultural and social aspects of Moya are as intrinsically
linked to the countryside as its evolution
is to the idiosyncrasy of its inhabitants. This makes
Villa de Moya an ideal destination for enjoying
sumptuous natural surroundings and indulging in
comfort and relaxation away from the daily routine
and the crowds. At at the same time, however, it is
very close to the wide range of cultural and leisure
activities that the municipality offers throughout
the year, as well as to the northern region of Gran
Canaria and the island's capital, Las Palmas de
Gran Canaria, from which it is just a twenty-five
minute car drive away and with good public transport
links.
Probably one of the most important figures ever to
have emerged from Moya is poet Tomás Morales,
who was born in the town in 1884 and died in Las
Palmas de Gran Canaria in 1921, prematurely at the
age of 37. On the occasion of the commemoration
of the 100th anniversary of his death last year, the
Town Council of the Villa de Moya and the Cabildo
de Gran Canaria ran an extensive programme of
activities to highlight and celebrate the figure of
one of the most significant poets of contemporary
Canary literature.
Atlántico Sonoro
In addition to last year’s well-deserved commemorations,
Tomás Morales continues to be a true inspiration
for the people of the Canary Islands. At
the end of March, Moya hosted an artistic show
entitled "Atlántico Sonoro", created by 2020 Producciones
with the support of the Moya Town Hall
and the Canary Islands Institute for Cultural Development
- Government of the Canary Islands.
The northern municipality’s Cultural Centre was
the place chosen by the production company to
perform the first two public performances of this
immersion into a journey that takes spectators
into the depths of the sea that bathes our Canary
coasts. This immersion is inspired by Ode to the
Atlantic, the work of Tomas Morales himself.
The perfect explanation for this work would be an
ocean full of dreams and charms to submerge the
soul, pause for breath, impregnate ourselves with
saltpetre and galvanise the song of the waves. A
sea full of calm and brio, of muses and currents,
which through dance and full of emotions, makes
the spectator live the experience of a love story immersed
in the abyss of the sea depths.
"Atlántico Sonoro" is an underwater love story divided
into three acts: sunset, stormy night and rebirth,
evoking the stages of the sea’s daily cycle. It
represents a journey of exploration into the secret
corners of the ocean, the very ocean that has been
a bridge to the rest of civilizations, and a witness to
battles and conquests, throughout history.
‘Atlántico Sonoro' has an artistic team comprising
Antonio Calero (choreography) and Belén A.
Doreste (musical composition), as well as dancers
José Guadalupe, Cristina Pérez, Sofía Silva, Teresa
Saavedra and Heriberto Rodríguez; all encapsulated
in the content of Daniel Pinedo (Derrotero VFX).