A ground-breaking performing arts initiative in Adeje is putting older women at the heart of creative expression, as the town hall’s Department of Equality and Diversity wraps up its latest project, Principiantes.
The programme, aimed at women over 60, was delivered in partnership with the Tenerife Cabildo and Intacto Films. Ten women took part in the workshop, culminating in a public showcase held on Thursday, 15th May at the Costa Adeje Centre for Tourism Development (CDTCA), with more than 30 people, including members of the municipal Equality Council, attending the event.
The project was led by dancer and choreographer Carlota Mantecón and focused on dance, voice, and performance in a space designed for free expression and mutual support.
Councillor José Antonio López Delgado, who heads Adeje’s Equality and Diversity department, praised the initiative, saying: “This is a powerful act of recognition, placing older women, often excluded from creative spaces, in a leading role. It’s about listening, expression, and giving artistic and social value to memory and experience.”
The final presentation took place in a circular format, dissolving the boundary between performers and audience to create an intimate and inclusive experience. Participants shared elements of their personal journeys through movement and voice, challenging traditional narratives around ageing and artistic practice.
Principiantes is part of a wider research project that Mantecón launched in 2013. Since then, it has travelled across the Canary Islands, involving over 90 women in various municipalities. The workshops require no prior artistic experience and embrace the diversity of each woman’s life and body.
The initiative is aligned with Adeje Council’s broader strategy to promote inclusive storytelling and encourage diverse voices in public and artistic spaces, with a strong focus on collective creativity, sisterhood, and lived experience.
