Congratulations to La Colmenita in its 30 years!

It is not risky to say that there is no Cuban who does not know La Colmenita, this group of theater made by and for children who turns 30 years old founded by Carlos Alberto Cremata and which also know many around the world.

Tim Cremata, was still a third-year student, in the specialty of Theater Direction of the Higher Institute of Art of Cuba (ISA) when he decided to create a group that was born on February 14, 1990 with only 14 members, in frank allegory of love which has been distributed since this birth La Colmenita.

There is much to talk about Cremata; his foundational idea, illuminated by Martí’s ideology, only deserves praise and thanks; his contribution to the spiritual development of the youngest generations of Cubans is incomparable and his intention to multiply in other hives throughout the country and even abroad, demonstrates his eagerness to share these formation actions and his arsenal of sensitivity and wisdom.

Already at the end of the decade of the 90 La Colmenita multiplies the workshops in the country, which receive all the children, without any distinction, even the disabled; an example of this is the creation of the Workshop -Colmenita of the Special School for deaf and hard of hearing children "René Vilches"; this defense of diversity and respect for the different things that  he has sown in La Colmenita children, is one of their most noble and moving actions.

Tim Cremata, had as one of its cardinal objectives, to strengthen the cultural bond with the inhabitants of the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Havana and the other provinces, particularly in the area of ​​the Ciénaga de Zapata, in Matanzas, through representations of universal classical works by William Shakespeare, Lope de Vega or Tirso de Molina, and it is April 2, 1994, when for the first time, they offer a theatrical performance with Meñique, at the "Karl Marx" Theater, only with little girls and boys.

Colmenitas are counted in Havana, Plaza, Playa, Marianao, Arroyo Naranjo, Diez de Octubre, Boyeros, Old Havana, and in the Cayo Hueso, Alamar and Lawton neighborhoods, among others.

Some of them associated with organizations such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Ministry of Construction, and the Granma Polygraphic Combination have also been born, and those of the Villa Clara and Sancti Spiritus provinces are noteworthy.

Already with a house of their own, the laborious Cuban bees manage to multiply these formative actions in their territories.

There are several generations of Cubans who have received the ethical teachings of small actors through dances, poems, stories, songs and laughs, many laughs, which is the best way to learn.

La Colmenita has a wide repertoire thoughtful and intentional, consisting of versions of children's classics, including: Goldilocks and the three bears; Pinky, The Puss in Boots, The Cockroach Martina, Alice in Wonderland, The Black Doll, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and pieces originally created for the group.

La Colmenita has contributed not only to the training of children but has also been a valid alternative in the specialized training of actors and actresses who have followed the path of the stages although this is not the fundamental objective of the group.

But, those who were members of the group and then chose other professional performances, have been marked by formal education habits, discipline, rigor and respect, effective for any profession in life.

Not only in Cuba Tim's children are applauded; their presentations in multiple countries such as Haiti, Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, Panama, Belgium, Germany and the United States, among many others, have constituted, as on the island, true public phenomena and have conquered flattering criticisms that recognize the peculiarity of a theater made by children, who knows how to captivate not only the little ones but also the elders, for its universal message of solidarity and kindness.

On this birthday we must congratulate La Colmenita and Tim Cremata for their contribution to training tomorrow's citizens by cultivating the highest human values ​​through artistic creation with a multidisciplinary approach; develop the imagination of children, making known the best of universal and folkloric literature, and integrating those children with special educational needs to the enjoyment of art, thus achieving unity in the diverse, which also gives adults legitimate tools for training of men and women, good, worthy and patriotic.

These reasons were also valid for the Excelencias Group to decide to give these great friends, the Excelencias Cuba de Arte Award in 2017.