The aspiration to have a Professional Dance Conservatory in Jaén has become one of the longest-standing educational demands in the province. What began over fifteen years ago as a request driven by academies, faculty, and families, remains unfulfilled, generating deep citizen weariness with projects that are repeatedly announced but never executed.
Currently, Jaén is one of only two Andalusian capitals, along with Huelva, lacking official dance studies. This situation forces dozens of students to travel to other provinces such as Granada or Córdoba to pursue these studies, posing a significant barrier to equal opportunities.
The demand gained momentum in 2009 with the formation of the citizen platform "Plataforma Proconservatorio de Danza, Jaén". For years, this collective has kept the demand alive through signature campaigns, gatherings, and meetings with administrations, successfully mobilizing hundreds of people in demonstrations held in Plaza de Santa María.
“"This is the first time in ten years that a delegate from Education has not attended to us. We have no idea what stage the project is in."
Despite institutional announcements and initial commitments, such as the investment announced by the Junta de Andalucía in 2021, the project has suffered continuous delays. The location initially planned in the vicinity of Calle Molino de la Condesa generated expectations, but the procedures became complicated, leading the project into a phase of uncertainty.
In 2023, discrepancies arose between administrations regarding land cession, which led to further criticism from the platform. In parallel, the City Council resumed urban planning procedures to unblock the land. The platform's representative, María Eugenia Román, emphasizes the urgency: "Dance is a discipline that must start very young," and denounces that many minors cannot travel daily to other cities.
In 2024, the Junta announced a change of location to land adjacent to the CEIP Ruiz Jiménez and an increase in investment. However, the lack of tender for works and a definitive timeline has increased distrust. Technical and archaeological studies conducted between late 2024 and 2025 were presented as the first steps, but construction has yet to begin.
The platform warns of talent loss and argues that the project represents a matter of "territorial equality and opportunities." "With our taxes, we also have the right to this type of public education," states Román, recalling that there are music conservatories in the province, but not for dance. Despite the accumulated weariness, they assure they will continue mobilizing "for the youth and because we believe we must keep fighting."
