The Valencian Institute of Culture (IVC) presents the regional triumphs at the Castelló Teatro President venue with the sixth edition of the Valencia Performing Arts Awards. The ceremony, a premiere broadcast by À Punt, celebrates the professionals from across the Valencian Community who light up the stage with theater, dance, circus, and street arts, spanning 18 award categories and 98 diverse shows.
Among this year’s nominees, eight hail from the Alicante province. The company La Trócola Circ stands out with two nominations for Best Circus Show for its final assembly filled with rotation and spectacle. The show REMA journeys into the realm of dreams, a story about self-determination and courage. Andrea Perez is nominated alongside company director Jon Sádaba for Best Circus Artist for the same production.
Contemporary dance troupe Marroch appears as one of three Santa Pola artists nominated for Best Street Art Show with Trópico, a project that explores life cycles through movement. Salvador Rocher Andrés, María Palazón, and Melodía García contribute to the performance, weaving a tropical thread through the choreography.
Trópico by the Marroch dance company INFORMATION
Alicante-based producer Dacsa Productions, known for Monovero, is behind the production, with Xavier Crespo at the helm. The work also involves La Penúltima Teatre and the production The Ugliest Woman in the World, a production that reflects on the misfortunes of fairground phenomena and has been recognized as a top theater show. Manuel Valls, the director of the play and a Valencian, is also in the running for Best Stage Direction in this edition.
Alcoy native Sol Pico earns a nomination for Best Choreography or Direction for Titans, a collaboration with Natsuki and Charlotta Öfverholm. The show marks a debut at the Palau de les Arts in Valencia and demonstrates Pico’s continued influence in modern dance.
The choreographic voice continues to shine as Carlos Prison, manager of the company In and Out, competes for Best Dancer with Partita n°2 in D minor, a piece that delves into human strength and fragility through movement and form.
Alcoyan dancer and choreographer Sol Pico. WHITE HORSE
On the acting front, a performer from Alcoy, Toni Miso, pursues recognition as Best Actor for his role in a production created and directed by Xavo Giménez. In the musical realm, Victor Lucas from Villena is nominated for Best Musical Composition for Bruno, a musical work he created and directed with Mamen Mengó, which left a lasting impact on the local musical theater scene.
juries
The candidate selection process involved a first independent jury made up of seven professionals from Valencian performing arts associations. The panel includes experienced figures who assess the breadth of local work and determine the shortlist. The names guiding this phase are Pepe Ayelo, Marta Borcha, Maria Colomer, Sara Esteller, Vanessa Montesinos, Rafa Contreras, and Jose Vicente Peiró.
A second jury then takes responsibility for choosing the winners from each shortlist. This group comprises influential figures from the Valencian cultural landscape, whose decisions cap the process with final determinations across the categories.
Honor Award
In addition to the competitive categories, the Valencia Performing Arts Honor Award for 2023 recognizes the lifetime contributions of professionals and organizations within the Valencian Community. The European Theater Project Erasmus StageIt received the honor for its sustained impact, with the acknowledgment presented for the University of Valencia. The recognition was announced by the Ministry of Culture as part of this year’s ceremony, underscoring the enduring value of regional cultural initiatives and cross-border collaboration.