Redaccion
The contemporary dance festival takes place from April 22nd to May 4th, and one of the highlights will be at the Teatro Principal on the 30th with «Silk» by the Dance Theatre Heidelberg, featuring costumes by Palomo Spain
Alicante, March 26, 2025. «Abril en Danza» returns with 22 activities in Alicante, Elche, and Murcia, featuring top national and international contemporary dance companies. The festival was presented this Wednesday in Alicante by the Councilor of Culture, Antonio Peral, along with his counterpart in Elche, Irene Ruiz, and the director, renowned dancer and choreographer Asun Noales.
The program for the XIV edition of «Abril en Danza» consists of 22 activities, including 11 performances in theaters, three in the streets, four master classes, two workshops, a colloquium, and a meeting among professionals. This year’s theme is «Vibrant,» and the presentation was also attended by the Deputy Director of the Teatro Principal de Alicante, María Dolores Padilla, the director of the Juan Gil-Albert Cultural Institute, Cristina Martínez, and the director of Teatre Arniches, Alicia Garijo, who collaborate with the festival along with the city councils of the three cities, the Region of Murcia, the Valencian Institute of Culture of the Valencian Community, Fundación Mediterráneo, and the Valencian Association of Dance Companies.
Peral emphasized that «Abril en Danza is one of the most important contemporary dance festivals in Spain, and we are delighted to collaborate so that Asun Noales can once again showcase her magic, bringing high-quality shows to our main cultural venues in the three cities of Alicante, Elche, and Murcia.» «This festival is a golden opportunity to get closer, learn more, and enjoy this artistic expression of contemporary dance in an already established cycle that grows and surpasses itself every year,» added the councilor.
Asun Noales pointed out that «in this edition of Abril en Danza, we bring a powerful and vibrant program to Alicante, Elche, and Murcia, supporting both national and international talent, and always promoting the talent of the Valencian Community.» She highlighted the theme «Vibrant» for the strength that dance and bodies have to inspire and change the world. «Vibrant» refers to this expansive wave of movement and thought that connects places, spaces, territories, artists, countries, landscapes, and generates synergies, creatively expanding through art to the entire community that revolves around dance in this area,» she explained.
On the other hand, Irene Ruiz noted that «we continue to support Abril en Danza, which this year brings a luxurious program,» while pointing out that «when things are done with the passion and professionalism that Asun Noales and OtraDanza bring, it is a total guarantee of success.»
«Abril en Danza» once again showcases the bridges that will bring the consolidated and emerging talent from various points of the territory to Alicante, Elche, and Murcia, with pieces from companies and artists from Catalonia, Andalusia, Valencian Community, Galicia, Aragon, Madrid, and Navarra. On the international stage, creations from Bulgaria, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Poland, and France will be staged.
Programming
Although the activities begin on April 22nd, the scenic kickoff of the festival will be on the 23rd at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Alicante (MACA), where the piece «I am (t)here» by Aurora Bauzà and Pere Jou will be performed. This is a scenic and musical work on the relationship between the body and voice, exploring new forms of interaction between them.
On April 24th, «La Terreta Balla» will once again bring together a large part of the talent from Alicante on the stage of the Fundación Mediterráneo with a mix of proposals to thrill the audience.
On the 25th, the first of the international appointments will take place. From Bulgaria, the Derida Dance Company will present «Fractus» at the L’Escorxador Cultural Center in Elche. A visual dance show where bodies interact with each other in a specific geometric structure.
The Teatre Arniches joins the programming of Abril en Danza on April 26th with the presence of the Valencian company Colectivo Sin Par, presenting «Mírala cara a cara,» which, from contemporary dance, proposes a novel approach to sevillanas. Lara Misó and Wilma Puentes revisit that structure from their language, starting from the interest it arouses as a popular and playful folkloric manifestation.
The second emblematic event of the Festival will be at the Gran Teatre in Elche, where «Emergentes» will take place, the great commitment of Abril en Danza since its inception to support and promote new talents. It will feature members of the GoOD Project, an artistic training initiative for meeting, research, and professionalization in contemporary dance, developed by the OtraDanza company based in Elche. It will take place on April 26th.
On the 30th, the doors of the Teatro Principal de Alicante will open to welcome «Silk,» a proposal from Germany but with a clear Spanish influence in the production. Dance Theatre Heidelberg presents this piece, which, in addition to having Iván Pérez as a choreographer, features the participation of Alejandro Palomo (Palomo Spain) as a costume designer.
Simultaneously, at the Centro Párraga in Murcia, «Luz sobre las cosas,» a piece by the acclaimed choreographer, dancer, and actor Guillermo Weickert, will be showcased.
On May 2nd, the activities continue in Murcia, where the Teatro Circo will offer «Double Infinite» by the Catalan company Mal Pelo, one of the reference companies in Spanish contemporary dance. Mal Pelo has received various awards, including the National Culture Award of Catalonia, the Ciutat de Barcelona Award, and the National Culture Award for its trajectory in choreographic creation and opening up new paths in contemporary dance. In 2022, Mal Pelo received the Gold Medal from the Academy of Performing Arts of Spain and the Ciutat de Palma Margaluz Award for Performing Arts.
Also on May 2nd, the 2025 En Calle program will debut at the Secadero of the Centro Cultural Las Cigarreras in Alicante, where the audience will enjoy pieces by Colectivo Glovo with «Alleo» from Galicia; «Dummies» by the Valencian company Wako Danza, and «Todo este ruido» by Qabalum from Aragon.
On the 3rd and 4th of May, En Calle will be enjoyed at the Plaza de la Universidad in Murcia and at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento in Elche, respectively.
On May 3rd, from Belgium, Paper Bridge, Eliana Stragapede, and Borna Babić will present the premiere of the piece «Amae No Kōzō» at the Teatre Arniches. That same day at the Auditorio de La Alberca in Murcia, the Valencian company Cave Canem will present «Katherine Macbeth.»
Abril en Danza 2025 will conclude on May 4th at the Gran Teatro de Elche with the flamenco dancer and dancer from Elche, La Tacha, who will present «Menospausa,» an experience that fuses the intensity of flamenco with the exploration of change in women through dance, music, and narrative.
All programming and complementary activities can be found on the website abrilendanza.es
