Women, Cinema, and Dance in Spain
A new exhibition titled Women, Cinema and Dance in Spain arrives this Sunday, presented by Fundación Mediterráneo as part of Alicante Culture Class. Cinedanza blends audiovisual language with body movement, and to mark International Women’s Day on March 8, the Mediterranean Dance series will showcase six short films directed by women from a field that is often overlooked.
The works selected have earned recognition as finalists or winners at the festival High Five, which ran for ten editions in Madrid and Logroño and has since become a platform that supports this evolving genre. Samuel Retortillo, the festival’s director and driving force, is a specialist in stage applications and visual culture. He will introduce the six films and guide a public discussion on Sunday at 18:00 in Alicante.
The festival Fiver is dedicated to cinema-dance, a hybrid where the motion of the body meets the camera. Creators come from various backgrounds—some rooted in audiovisual work, others more performative—whose pieces often sit outside typical film or dance festivals. Retortillo, who wins an award there annually, pioneered Fiver, which has become an international reference for artists seeking a niche beyond traditional venues, drawing 2,000 to 2,500 submissions from about 130 countries.
Over the years, the festival has highlighted the contributions of women, though the journey started with modest figures and grew toward parity. In its early editions women accounted for roughly 15% of participants; by the tenth edition, their share neared 50%. This shift reflects a deliberate curatorial choice to foreground directorial voices and collaborative projects often helmed by women in tandem with dance professionals.
shorts
Six studies presented as animation, documentary, or hybrid cinematic narratives will be screened in Alicante. The program includes Kinxi, associated with Sara Fontan and Clara Tenain under the same direction as Anna Rubirola (2012); Black Horse, connected to Tuixen Benet (2014); Slow Fire, tied to Elena Castillafor (2015); Throw, by Carla Subira (2016); Da Mopa (Electronic Sevillanas) linked to Maria Teresa Garcia (2017); and Waltz and Rumba, by Laura Delgado (2021).
These pieces emphasize the endeavor to “value” pioneering, progressive, creative, and bold perspectives. A chorus of female directors who shape and support this evolving genre is central to the program, with Louis Boyer noting the festival’s mission: from institutions, a space is offered that is as beautiful and intricate as dance itself, fostering the development of this discipline. These views underscore a broader belief in dance as a potent vehicle for storytelling on screen.
Tickets start at 3 euros and can be purchased at the box office or online via a ticket portal (citation: Entradas Actualcance).
Mediterranean in Dance
The next event in Mediterráneo en Danza will take place on March 11. It will feature a pointe technique masterclass and an accompanying round table. Arantxa Arguelles will teach the masterclass, while Giada Rossi, principal dancer of the National Dance Company, and Eva Pérez, the National Dance Company’s costume manager, will participate in the discussion. The gathering will offer three distinct approaches to understanding the work performed in pointe shoes by dancers.