Born on October 9, 1945, in Aruba, Mrs. Diana Lydia Antonette stands as one of the most respected figures in the island’s cultural and artistic history. With 58 years dedicated to teaching dance, her life’s work reflects passion, devotion, and love for the art of movement. Her contributions have firmly established her as a Cultural Pillar of Aruban Dance.
Origins of Dance, According to Antonette
Diana Antonette believes that in every culture, the earliest forms of dance were ritualistic, magical, and religious. From these spiritual roots emerged folk dances, which express the traditions and identity of a people.
Over the centuries, dance evolved — from court dances and classical ballet in 16th-century France to modern dance in the early 20th-century United States, which became freer and more expressive. The rise of Jazz Ballet in the 1920s inspired new styles such as breakdance, hip-hop, and street dance, especially among the youth. For Antonette, dance remains a theatrical art form that evolves with the spirit of its time.
Education and Inspiration
In the 1950s, European teachers introduced classical ballet to Aruba. During this period, Diana became aware that Aruba also had its own traditional dances, including the Waltz, Danza, Mazurka, Polka, Tumba, Foxtrot, and Quadrille.
Between 1961 and 1968, she studied at the Rotterdam Dance Academy and the Ballet Studio Nel Roos in Amsterdam, mastering a variety of dance styles. She graduated as a certified ballet teacher, specializing in Jazz Ballet and Flamenco.
Her Contribution to Aruba
After returning home, Antonette worked for 28 years at the Arubaanse Dans en Balletschool, with a brief three-year break during which she co-founded and performed with Simadanza.
In 1983, she founded Teatro di Danza Arubano, which she directed and led to international recognition, representing Aruba in Curaçao, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, the U.S., Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the Netherlands, and France.
The group earned several awards, including:
- Mo Tito y Rufo Wever Award
- Premio Oro Aruba
- Den Ambiente Awards
Recognitions and Distinctions
Diana Antonette’s remarkable career has been honored with many prestigious awards:
- 2011: Best Aruban Flavor Award, Caribbean Spotlight Series, 2nd Aruba International Film Festival
- 2013: National Theatre Award (45 years in the arts, 30 years as Director of Teatro di Danza Arubano)
- 2014: Commemorative Medal for HM King Willem-Alexander’s Royal Visit to Aruba
- 2019: Knighted as Ridder in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau by the Dutch Royal House
- 2020: Werkbijdrage Bewezen Talent by the Mondriaan Fonds
- 2022: Selected for Orientation Travel to the Venice Biennale by Mondriaan Fonds
Educational Legacy
In 1996, Antonette fulfilled her dream by founding her own school, Scol di Baile Diana Antonette, from which many dancers and choreographers have emerged. Since 2010, her foundation has organized the annual International Dance Day celebration in Aruba, uniting dance schools from across the island.
Together with her daughter, Alydia Wever, she also created multidisciplinary dance-theatre works such as “One in Soul” and “Muhe Frida”, blending generations and creative expression.
Teaching Across Generations
Beyond her own school, Diana has taught in numerous educational institutions, including:
- Training programs for daycare leaders and children’s expression courses in primary schools (Scol Scucha Nos, Vespucci College)
- Substitute teacher at Colegio Arubano and Instituto Pedagogico Arubano (IPA)
- Teacher of Cultural and Artistic Formation (CKV) courses at both institutions
A Life Devoted to Art
Looking back on her journey, Diana Lydia Antonette feels immense pride and gratitude for the growth of dance as an art form in Aruba. Many of her students have become professional dancers and cultural ambassadors.
For her, teaching dance is more than a career — it is a spiritual, emotional, and physical vocation, a lifelong mission to shape and inspire generations.
Today, she remains a symbol of discipline, perseverance, and passion — a true Cultural Icon of Aruba.
Happy birthday, Mrs. Diana Antonette! Aruba thanks you for your decades of dedication to dance, culture, and the education of countless generations.
