The metropolis moves – Revista Teatre Barcelona
The ninth edition of Metropolitan Dance will be held from March 5 to 22 with a program that includes 177 functions of 90 shows within a total of 370 activities distributed in 12 municipalities: Badalona, Barcelona, Cornellà, El Prat, Esplugues, Granollers, L’Hospitalet, Sabadell, Sant Cugat, Santa Coloma, Terrassa and Viladecans.
This year’s edition revolves around the freedom of bodies to inhabit and transform public space, with an open, inclusive and participatory programme. Of the 90 shows scheduled, 47 are by women, 16 by mixed authors and 27 by men, the highest number of female creators in the history of the festival since 2018.
Inaugural show in L’Hospitalet
The official inauguration will take place on March 6 at 8 p.m. in the Plaça de la Cultura in L’Hospitalet with thema piece conceived specifically for this edition and directed by Hansel Cherrywith the collaboration of Barbara Pons. The project has the participation of 70 women volunteers linked to associations in the municipality and focuses on ageism and the stereotypes associated with female old age.
The closing ceremony will be held on March 22 in Ciutadella Park, at 12 noon, with an open and free proposal that will turn the public space into a great celebration of the movement starring the citizens themselves. The day will be animated by Laura Alcalá (La Súbita) and the collective Free Bodieswhich will activate the park with a communal and accessible choreographic action.
Big names and new creations
The program combines established figures and new voices from the contemporary scene. At the international level, they participate Poliana Lima with The Common Ground i A Place to Dance; the Argentine company Poyo Rojo with A red poyo; the italian Dewey Dell with The Rite of Spring; the Rwandan Dorothée Munyaneza with Umuko; the Taiwanese company Hung Dance with Birdie; and the Danish Dance Theatreunder the direction of Marina Mascarellwith Mongrel i Blood Moon.
At the state level, they stand out Rocío Molina with heating, Manuel Linán with dead of love i Maria Paula with Lake Machinea co-production of the festival he revisits Swan Lake i Hamlet from a contemporary point of view. The festival also maintains its commitment to co-productions as a structural axis of the project. In addition to Lake Machinepieces like 52-Blue ofIXAwhich reflects on loneliness in the age of hyper-connectivity; Something other than a conference of Manu Rodríguez; or A thousand springs ofEsbart Manresà, Sergi Estebanell i Arantza Labuena.
Dance beyond the theatres
One of the established lines of the festival is programming in non-conventional spaces. Squares, parks, heritage equipment and old factories are transformed into living scenarios, with proposals that dialogue with architecture and the urban context. Spaces such as the Plaça de la Cultura in L’Hospitalet, the Ciutadella Park, the Tecla Sala Art Center or various streets and squares in the participating municipalities are some examples.
More information, images and tickets:
Metropolitan Dance
From March 5, 2026 to March 22, 2026
The 9th edition of the Dansa Metropolitana festival begins, claiming the freedom of bodies to inhabit and transform public space. This 2026, Dansa Metropolitana revolves around freedom […]
See shows
The 9th edition of the Dansa Metropolitana festival begins, claiming the freedom of bodies to inhabit and transform public space. This 2026, Dansa Metropolitana revolves around freedom […]
See shows
