Entertainment in Cali
Activities in School
“The overseas staff tend to do things together, both at school and outside of it. As examples, there are the staff softball team, staff bi-nationals, yoga, and other sports that are regularly attended. Plus there is the participation in Halloween by staff (which was an eye opener for me), and the community get togethers, such as Thanksgiving, the Christmas meal and Velitas, which I know may seem commonplace, but for new teachers (well me at least), was a highlight of being at Colegio Bolivar and a member of a unique community.”
Written by a new teacher, 2012
Video Clubs/Rental
If you should happen to bring a DVD or purchase one here, movie rental is inexpensive, about US$1.50 to $2.00 (equivalent) per movie, and quite often first-run movies will get to the rental shops at the same time they hit the theaters, or even earlier, due to piracy and satellite copying. Most stores are small shops located in neighborhoods and usually just sell you the DVD’s, five for three thousand pesos, for example. You need to be careful about the quality. The older the movie, the more likely it is of good quality. The newer ones are generally pretty bad (some guy filming it on his video camera in the theater). The region doesn’t really matter anymore, and, to be honest, DVD’s are going the way of the horse and buggy. There will always be a niche, but stores like Blockbuster shut its doors years ago. Everyone is downloading content from the internet or watching Netflix.
Movies
Going to the movies in Colombia is a very inexpensive outing compared to North America. Movies will cost approximately US$2.50 to US$6.00 (equivalent), and first-run films are not too slow in getting here. Showtimes for dubbed movies are more frequent than for subtitled movies, which are usually available only in certain theaters and at night. The theaters are excellent, all with first class sections for a little more, reclining leather seats, and, in one theater, waiters take your orders and bring your food right to your chair. We also have 4DX theaters, in which your seat moves along with the movie, water is tossed when it rains, etc. It’s quite an experience..
Theater
There are many fine theater groups in Cali, including the Teatro Experimental de Cali (TEC), Calle 7, No 8-63; Teatro La Cuchilla, Carrera 26, No 4-40; Las Escalinatas, Calle 13E No 57-46; Taller Teatral El Globo, Carrera 12, No 4-51; Teatro Los Comunes, Calle 7 No 8-63 (TEC); and Teatro La Esquina Latina, Universidad del Valle, Carrera 36, Calle 4A.
There are also special shows, both musical and dance, offered throughout the year by several groups in town.