2026 in dance – Revista Teatre Barcelona
We give you some keys to find out which proposals, especially international ones, can be seen in the Flower Marketat TNC and to high school this first half of the year. Check out the full lineup of Metropolitan Dancewhich will take you to more diverse places, and check out the cycle El Mercat has not co-produced me yet.
Large format international dates
From a typical German repertory company to the latest cry of dance created in Africa, the programming for the first half of 2026 at Mercat de les Flors is loaded with very stimulating international dates. Following a chronological order, the first big show is that of the Hessen State Balletdirected by Bruno Heynderickxa German company that will visit us with a triple program signed by three vibrant voices of contemporary dance in Europe: the German Marco Goeckethe French Leila Ka and the Dutch brothers Imre i Marne van Opstal. Without a doubt, they will offer a varied and succulent choreographic feast at the hands of an excellent cast of dancers. In February, the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company (KNCDC) will arrive with Junglewhich is signed by the director of the company himself, Kim Sungyonga look at the wild side of our day. Athletic dance, virtuous and loaded with a social message.
The month of March is the festival of dance in Barcelona and the metropolitan area, because Dansa Metropolitana is celebrated, and as usual, some of the biggest shows of the festival are concentrated in the Mercat de les Flors. The Valencian choreographer returns this year Marina Mascarell – who was an associate artist of the house – with the Danish Dance Theatrecompany he currently runs. Mascarell presents two shows signed by herself. On the one hand, Blood Moona Dionysian celebration inspired by the work of the French thinker George Bataille. On the other hand, the market recovers Mongrela choreography that could already be seen almost ten years ago. Mongrel it’s a mirror of the pettiness of the herd and how homogeneity can be truly suffocating. Mascarell’s works always combine surprising choreography and staging with deep reflections.
At the end of March, the Ballet of Lorraine —which was also part of the 2021 schedule—arrives at the Market with a double program. follyfrom Portuguese Marco da Silva Ferreirais an exuberant and contagious choreography that explores ecstasy, euphoria and rebellion, with twenty-two dancers on stage. The other half of the program is signed by the director of the company, Maud Le Pladecwith Static Shotin which he immerses twenty-three dancers in an almost infinite crescendo.
At the beginning of May we will be able to see the work ofIdiot Chichava with the company Converge+ Dance Companyfrom Mozambique. After a career as a dancer in France, Chichava returned to his country, where he has started various inter-community dance projects. At the Market presents vagabonda work that deals with migration through a principle: bodies that dance and sing at the same time. According to the tradition of the Makonde people, we can only fully express ourselves by dancing and singing. And, in this line of voice and body, the Swedish choreographer based in Germany, Jephthah van Dintherreturns to Barcelona to present Unearth at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Catalonia (MACBA), where ten dancers enter a choreography made of voice and body. Van Dinther’s shows tend to be perfect spiritual experiences to feed the soul.
Solos, duets and local shows
In the middle of Metropolitan Dance, Pau Aran — who was a dancer of Tanztheater Wuppertal of Pina Bausch— will perform the solo Mycoa poetic proposal that takes us deep into the forest. The Brazilian creator Poliana Lima return to the Market for a triple match with Black Gold, The Common Ground and, with the British flamenco dancer Yinka Esi Gravesproposes A Place to Dance. Also in March, the Andalusian choreographer Manuel Rodríguez presents Something other than a conferencea luxury quintet with Soren Evinson, Rodrigo Sobarzo, Laila Tafur, Paula Tato and himself At the end of April, visit us Cherish Menzofeaturing the critically acclaimed European duet Darkmatter.
Theater dance at the TNC and narrative ballet at the Liceu
The choreographer and stage manager Vero Cendoya brings together a group of actors and actresses of different abilities to create and premiere A brilliant imperfection (or the death of a pianist) at the TNC (January 15). Cendoya, who works in the field of dance-theatre, and the playwright Israel Sola they are inspired by the book Brilliant Imperfection ofEli Claredisabled and queer activist. Cendoya always stirs consciences with tenderness and humor. And at the end of the season, Gabriela Carrizoco-director of the company peeping tompresents Chronicleswith five performers on stage who reveal overlapping stories or memories. As usual in the shows of the Belgian company, the limits of time and space are confused, as if it were a dream, in a virtuosic and unsettling dance-theatre format.
The Liceu recovers Nijinsky (April 12–15), a ballet by John Neumeier with the Hamburg Balletinspired by the legendary dancer Vaclav Nijinskywhich shone in the Ballets Russes by Serge Diaghilev. Narrative ballet choreographer Neumeier delves into the turbulent life of the Polish dancer and transports the audience to the charm of the Belle Époque and the opulence of the 1920s.
