The next edition of the cross-border Dance Festival arrives in April, bringing its program to Murcia for the first time. Founded in 2011 in Elche, the festival began hand in hand with the choreographer Asun Noales, and five years later connected with Alicante in 2016, expanding its scope to include Circo and Romea theatres in Murcia. Contemporary dance will be staged from April 11 to 30.
This marks another milestone in the festival’s consolidation. A total of 35 artists and companies from different regions will participate, with around 70 dancers spread across thirty events in the calendar.
“I spent a long time thinking about bringing the festival closer to Murcia because we are neighbors,” says Noales, the artistic director of OtraDanza, who relishes challenges and is making this collaboration a reality this year. “This is a pioneering inter-regional project in the eastern corner of the country.” Sustainability is a priority as the three cities are within an hour’s drive, enabling extended demonstrations, reduced production costs, and shared travel expenses.
The festival features special events and shared programs in each city, aiming to foster dance culture every year and invite new audiences while continuing to delight the loyal crowd. Most performances are free, with ticket prices ranging from 10 to 15 euros.
The issue also honors three national dance awards: Iratxe Ansa (2020), Andres Marin (2022) and Jon Maya of Kukai Dantza (2017). Ansa is recognized for collaborative work with Igor Bacovich. CreAction, showcasing Metamorphosis Dance, and Maya have earned two Max 2022 awards (choreography and lighting), presented prominently at the Teatro Principal in Alicante on April 19. A joint program exploring flamenco and Basque folklore will be staged on April 30 at the Gran Teatro de Elche.
Opening in April features an advanced workshop in Alicante led by Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, creator of Titoyaya Dansa. He will be at L’Escorxador in Elche on April 11, hosted by the Gil-Albert Institute, which will present a preview of video creation on the 13th. The festival also features a collaboration related to Federica Sansano and Noales, the Petricor dwelling project developed in Tabarca.
Street performances will unfold as three pieces on the terraces of L’Escorxador and the Secadero de Las Cigarreras in Alicante on April 14 and 15. Unofficial pieces from Catalonia include Appetizer, a finalist for three Max 2023 awards, Marcat Dancewith strangeAndalusia, and Room (live) from the Basque Country.
Another finalist team in Max 2023 includes Lali Ayguadé Company, a Catalan space showcased on April 22 at Teatre Arniches, and the piece Longing for Their Bodies, featuring Paloma Calderón from Cristina Gómez’s company (three Valencia Performing Arts awards winner) on April 16.
Premieres in the state
Many works will premiere in the province, bringing fresh stages to audiences. Tiring Field, linked to Dance Theater Heidelberg, questions Who runs Alicante? Ivan Perez Aviles presents independent works by young artists such as Ignacio Fizona, Carla Sisteré, Edu Migró, or Colectivo Banquet, which will bring their latest projects to the festival gala at Gran Teatro Elche on April 23. Emerging Alicante talents will host events on April 27, including a session with Tereta Honey at the Fundación Mediterráneo Cultural Class, featuring dancers from Alicante performing works beyond their home region, for example Eneko Amoros (Toulouse Ballet), Fernando Carratala (English National Ballet), and Sonia Garcia among others.
Celebrating its third year in cooperation with the festival, ROTTEN expands its program with interventions in dance, performance, and live arts starting with the Museum Consortium go figure, offering an inclusive program featuring Sharon Fridman on April 26.
All festival information and ticket details can be found in the program of the event, with citations provided for attribution.