Dénia welcomes five nights of contemporary dance as international festival returns for 12th year

Dénia is preparing to become a meeting point for contemporary dance this November, with an international festival bringing five days of performances, emerging talent and family-friendly entertainment to the Costa Blanca.

The 12th edition of Ultramar Dansa will take place from Wednesday, November 11, to Sunday, November 15, offering audiences the chance to experience a varied programme of dance productions, ranging from experimental performances to shows designed to introduce younger audiences to the art form.

The annual festival has established itself as an important event on the Valencian contemporary dance calendar, celebrating both home-grown creativity and international influences.

This year’s programme features five performances across the week, with an opening night offering free admission and a special Sunday show aimed at families with children.

Free opening night invites audiences to discover dance

The festival will get underway on Wednesday, November 11, at 8pm with a double performance by dance company Moon.

The opening programme will feature two works, Moon Aperio Pensum and La vibració del silenci, giving audiences an opportunity to experience contemporary dance without having to pay for a ticket.

The free performance is also intended to make the art form more accessible, particularly for people who may not have previously attended a contemporary dance production.

It offers an inviting introduction to a festival that combines different artistic approaches and styles throughout the week.

A celebration of movement, identity and artistic expression

On Thursday, November 12, Colectivo Sin Par will take to the stage at 8pm with Mírala cara a cara, a 50-minute production that reimagines the traditional sevillana dance through contemporary choreography.

The performance draws on the cultural significance of the Spanish dance while exploring the importance of human connection and looking one another in the eye. It promises a fresh interpretation of a familiar tradition, using movement to give new meaning to an established cultural expression.

Tickets for Thursday’s performance cost €10.

Friday, November 13, will see the festival turn towards themes of identity, freedom and acceptance with Padre Nuestro, a production by Edu Migro.

Created as a collaboration between Yapadú Artística and Migrodanza, the 50-minute performance takes inspiration from the artistic universe of Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca.

It explores the right to be different and the freedom to love, using contemporary dance to address questions of personal identity and individual expression.

The production is scheduled to begin at 8pm, with tickets priced at €10.

Valencia Dancing Forward marks a decade of dance

Saturday’s programme will have a celebratory feel as Valencia Dancing Forward marks its 10th anniversary with a special performance at 8pm.

The production, entitled VDF 10 Anys, brings together different choreographic styles and creative voices to celebrate a decade of sharing contemporary dance with audiences.

The anniversary programme will feature five works: That Awful Sound by Jacob Gómez, Dual Selfie by the creators of LED Silhouette, Ningú No és Perfecte by Barcelona-based Esther Eleene, Cenizas by Valencian choreographer Clara Barberà and Bolero by Ishan Rustem.

The varied selection promises an evening showcasing the different directions contemporary dance can take, bringing together distinctive artistic approaches in one performance.

Tickets for Saturday’s anniversary show cost €10.

Free family performance brings festival to a close

The festival will finish on Sunday, November 15, with a special family performance at midday.

Únicos, by Granada-based company Da.te Danza, is designed to introduce younger audiences to contemporary dance through a story about childhood, self-discovery and the development of personal identity.

The production uses the image of a forest as a metaphor for the inner world people gradually build as they grow. At its heart are two children who meet and recognise one another for who they really are.

It poses thought-provoking questions about how people develop their sense of self, how much influence society and culture have on individual identity, and whether people are defined by who they are or by how others see them.

The performance offers a more accessible way for children and adults to experience contemporary dance together, while introducing themes that can spark conversations long after the curtain falls.

Admission to Sunday’s family show is free, although places are limited by the auditorium’s capacity.

Where to see Ultramar Dansa and how to get tickets

All five days of the 12th Ultramar Dansa festival will take place at the Teatre Auditori in Dénia’s Centre Social, on Carrer Calderón.

The opening performance on November 11 and the closing family session on November 15 are free to attend, subject to available capacity.

Tickets for the three intervening evening performances cost €10 and can be purchased through the Notikumi ticketing platform. Tickets may also be available at the box office one hour before each performance.

With a mixture of established performers, emerging creative voices, Spanish cultural influences and opportunities for younger audiences, the festival offers a varied programme for residents and visitors looking for something different to enjoy in Dénia this November.

Full programme:

• Wednesday, November 11, 8pm: Moon and Irene de la Rosa – free admission.

• Thursday, November 12, 8pm: Colectivo Sin Par – €10.

• Friday, November 13, 8pm: Padre Nuestro – €10.

• Saturday, November 14, 8pm: Valencia Dancing Forward – €10.

• Sunday, November 15, noon: Únicos by Da.te Danza – free family session.