Madrid en Danza Festival 2024

Madrid becomes the European centre of dance thanks to this veteran festival which, as always, presents the public with the latest in local, national and international dance through a programme that breaks away from tradition. The 39th edition will be held from 9 May to 26 May 2024 with the Teatros del Canal as the main venue, but with many more shows at private halls and theatres and in a further seven municipalities across the Community of Madrid. This edition sets out its commitment to the contemporary artistic scene with 22 shows from five countries.

Each year, Madrid in Dance combines the new and the consolidated through a programme that includes leading figures from the world of dance and up and coming promises. Although the prime objective of the festival is to raise awareness of the new aesthetics and themes of national dance, it also has an international section with several focal points in each edition.

This festival, organised by the Community of Madrid under the artistic management of the Spanish choreographer, dancer, film-maker and producer Blanca Li, underlines its value and importance in the dissemination of the artistic language of dance. The 2024 main programme, which boasts 22 shows, will be held at the main venue, Teatros del Canal, which is also joined by the Paco Rabal Cultural Centre. And it will be extended to a further seven venues across the Community of Madrid.  A total of 22 companies (four international, nine from the Community of Madrid and the rest from Andalusia, the Canary Islands, Galicia, the Basque Country and Navarra) will showcase numerous outlooks on the world and the art of contemporary choreographic creation.

The audience will be able to enjoy performances from five countries, including seven premières (four in Spain and three in the Community of Madrid). Companies like (La)Horde / Marseilles National Ballet, Wayne McGregor, Stephanie Lake Company and the choreographer, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker stand out.

This year, Madrid in Dance takes to the streets thanks to a highly participative event that is free of charge and open to all audiences in Puerta del Sol on 11 May. For 10 consecutive hours, the square will be transformed into a dance studio where several shows will be performed and the audience will be invited to participate and learn ballroom, modern, flamenco or contemporary dance steps.

The festival's performances will kick off with (La)Horde and the Marseilles National Ballet, which are coming back to Teatros del Canal after their last visit in 2022 with the memorable production of Room with a View. In Age of Content, they immerse themselves in the virtual universe, creating a canvas that fuses dance and multimedia. 

The shows, UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey by the multi-award winning British choreographer, Wayne McGregor, who is inspired by the unforgettable film, The Dark Crystal by Jim Henson-, and EXIT ABOVE: after the tempest by the Belgian choreographer, Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker with music by Meskerem Mees, Jean-Marie Aerts, Carlos Garbin, are particularly noteworthy.

Programme:

• 9 and 10 May, 8.30pm - Age of Content - Teatros del Canal - Red Hall
• 15 and 16 May, 8.30pm - UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey - Canal Theatres - Red Hall
• 15 May, 8pm - La Reina del Metal - Teatros del Canal - Green Hall
• 16 May, 8pm -  LOS PERROS- Paco Rabal Cultural Centre
• 17 May, 6.30pm, 8pm and 9.30pm - Verso libre - Teatros del Canal - Green Hall
• 19 May, 7pm - EXIT ABOVE after the tempest - Teatros del Canal - Red Hall
• 19 May, 6pm - Las Alegrías - Teatros del Canal - Black Hall
• 22 May, 7.30pm - Mercedes máis eu - Teatros del Canal - Black Hall
• 23 May, 7pm / 24 May, 8.30pm - Afanador - Teatros del Canal - Red Hall
• 23 May, 8.30pm / 24 May, 7.30pmh- SHINE - Teatros del Canal - Black Hall
• 24 and 25 May, 8pm / 26 May, 6.30pm - Manifesto - Teatros del Canal - Green Hall

Other municipalities:

• 10 May, 8pm - Mariana - Centro Comarcal de Humanidades Sierra Norte (La Cabrera)
• 10 May, 8pm - Berro - Federico García Lorca Theatre  (Getafe)
• 12 May, 7pm - Europe -  Buero Vallejo Municipal Theatre (Alcorcón)
• 16 May, 8pm - He aquí un acto romántico - Centro Comarcal de Humanidades Sierra Norte (La Cabrera)
• 17 May, 8pm - PHARSALIA - City of Alcobendas Theatre Auditorium (Alcobendas)
• 17 May, 8pm - VAV - Municipal Theatre (Coslada)
• 24 May, 8pm - Flamenco: Creative Space - Real Coliseo Carlos III (San Lorenzo de El Escorial)
• 24 May, 8pm - Mucha Muchacha - Centro Comarcal de Humanidades Sierra Norte (La Cabrera)
• 24 May, 8pm - Glass House - Francisco Rabal Municipal Theatre (Pinto)
• 25 May, 8pm - Zarra -  Buero Vallejo Municipal Theatre (Alcorcón)