Two ensembles were invited to a Tabarquinos showcase that spotlighted their work on Tabarca Island, off the coast of Alicante. A fifteen‑minute film captures the island’s ambience and serves as inspiration for both proposals, grounding the projects in Tabarca’s natural and environmental heritage while aligning with current practices in search‑aware storytelling.
Life. Six senses between the navel and cartilage is the title of the installation. Jessica Martínez, Luis López Casero, Clara Crespo, María Begoña Santalices, and Amparo Urieta have devoted themselves to recording the island’s acoustic portrait. The sound montage encompasses everything from buzzing bees and waves lapping the shore to seagulls, wind through awnings, and dogs, as Martínez explains. This audio work will become part of a larger theater and performance project bearing the same title, developed over two years. The artists describe a journey through grief, loss, and mortality while seeking signals of life in the natural world. They say Tabarca provided those signals, guiding the artistic direction. The full presentation is slated to premiere at La Mutant in Valencia on November 26.
Airport, the second project, merges dance and theater with 3D technology, video, photography, and music. Federica Fasano, Asun Noales, Rosa Castillo, Carlos Fernández Fuentes, and Miguel Ángel Sánchez Agulló collaborate with Germán Antón García, Rubén Martínez García, Victoriano Simón, and OtherDance to probe the island’s historical roots in order to grasp its spirit. The team has consulted residents and visited more than twenty‑five venues with varied aesthetics to craft an intimate preview of the final work. Fasano emphasizes the importance of embracing the island to honor its precious legacy. The finished product will be a documentary complemented by a 2D video and a photo report produced in 360 degrees, viewable with 3D glasses. The objective is to present the project to international film and dance festivals.
It was striking how productive the artists found the experience. They uncovered space for creation beyond expectations and enjoyed a busy, rewarding period. The calm environment fostered deeper artistic output among moss, rocks, and the island’s lighthouse. Fasano, whose team draws on a diverse range of backgrounds, notes that the piece primarily reflects Valencian perspectives and that the opportunity carries meaningful significance for the region. The families involved in Tabarca express happiness about being in a place dedicated to the essential work of creation, and they say the experience exceeded their initial hopes.
Cultural leadership highlighted Tabarca as an inspiring area, proud to support the island and this ongoing collaboration because no such project has been attempted there before. In contrast, the institute’s leadership points out that these residences already exist elsewhere and are admired by other cultural sectors for their blend of research and creative work on the island. Plans include expanding these residences next year into two separate time frames, underscoring a commitment to ongoing artistic development and isolation that fosters concentrated creation.
Presently, each chosen group receives 4,500 euros to cover equipment, meals, travel, and production costs. The institute has increased research grants this year to 40,000 euros. It will coordinate the presentation of both proposals in Alicante as project timelines allow.