El flamenco y la danza contemporánea destacan en el Festival 40 -A Madrid en Danza
The community cultural agenda of Madrid will be in full swing this weekend for the start of the 40th edition of the Madrid Dance Festival, which will take place until June 1st in various venues in the capital and four municipalities in the region. It will feature 25 performances from eight different countries, showcasing some of the most important moments in contemporary dance and flamenco.
French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj will kick off the event at the Concha Velasco Hall in the Teatros del Canal with his work «Réquiem (s)», where he will explore themes of mourning and memory through a universal choreographic language, setting the tone for a program that moves between intimate and collective. The inspiration for this work came from the loss of the artist’s father, mother, and friends in 2023.
Subsequently, the 2018 National Dance Award winner Antonio Ruz will present another project from May 8th to May 11th at the Sala Verde, «Norma». This piece is a critical reflection on the concept of normality, intertwining five bodies between normative and different, common and unexpected.
Furthermore, the Black Box will host the premiere in Madrid of the opera «Don Juan no existe», composed by Helena Cánvas with libretto by Alberto Iglesias. The performances will feature soloists from the Teatro Real Orchestra, including sopranos Montserrat Seró and Rocío Faus, baritone Josep-Rramón Olivé, and tenor Pablo García-López.
Released last year from the Perelada Festival, the work explores the figure of writer Carmen Díaz by Mendoza Aguado, who authored a lost theatrical work critiquing Don Juan and was not preserved, sparking a discussion on forgotten artists.
Additionally, on May 10th, the Concha Velasco Hall will premiere «Sacudida» by Andrea Motis, a concert where she will be accompanied by percussionist Zé Luis Nascimento and violinist Christoph Mallinger. Considered one of the most influential artists in the current jazz scene, Motis has recorded eleven albums ranging from jazz fused with electronic or hip-hop to big band.
Prokofiev Points and Teatro de Arrabal
Simultaneously, the Teatro Abbey, under the direction of Jan Lauwers and starring Cunill Gonzalo, will present «Y sublime error» from May 8th to May 18th. Following its success in Barcelona, this production will arrive at the Corral de Comedia in Alcalá de Henares on May 9th and 10th with «A Fuego,» a monologue entirely in verse, written and performed by Pablo Macho Otero. The piece reflects on the figure of Erópato, the human desire for transcendence, the meaning of life, and the universal fear.
To conclude, on May 10th, the Real Coliseo Carlos III in San Lorenzo de El Escorial will feature «Especies», an experience that combines the talents of pianist Harrison Herman and mezzo-soprano Ingartze Astuy in a program that merges tradition with contemporary sensibility. The repertoire ranges from Prokofiev and Rachmaninov to original compositions by Tito Avendño Salas.
On Sunday, May 11th, audiences can enjoy «Picnic», one of Fernando Arbal’s most representative works. The Spanish playwright, considered a key figure in absurd theater, blends surrealism in his work with influences from Jarry, Beckett, and Ionesco, while also paying homage to literary giants such as Cervantes, Góngora, Quevedo, and Valle-Inclán.
Under the direction of Luciano García Lorenzo, the play constructs a deep and humorous satire on irrational warfare, prompting reflection on the fragility of the human condition and the systems that perpetuate conflict.
Museums and Exhibitions
The regional government continues to offer free exhibition proposals at various venues. The Cristóbal Portillo Chamber at the EAGRA complex presents the exhibition «José Luis Alonso Mañes: una vida para el teatro» dedicated to the career of this renowned Madrid director. Curated by Luciano García Lorenzo, the exhibition showcases a collection of 118 pieces including manuscripts, books, photos, set designs, among others, until May 25th.
Similarly, at the El Águila venue, the regional government presents the exhibition «En la brújula de Madrid», which takes a musical journey through three centuries (XVIII, XIX, and XX) and can be visited at the exhibition hall of the Regional Library of Madrid until July 27th, with free admission.
The exhibition at the Asamblea brings together over 160 pieces, including photos, magazines, books, posters, instruments, and scores, from the Regional Library, National Library of Spain, Ballet Nacional de España, Fundación Hazen, Conservatorio Real Superior de Música, SGAE, and private collections.
In Alcalá de Henares, the Museo Arqueológico y Paleontológico de la Comunidad Madrid (MARPA) hosts the exhibition «¡Hispano! Gladiadores en el Imperio Romano» until September 28th. This exhibition offers a comprehensive view of the historical phenomenon of gladiators with the utmost archaeological rigor, exploring their origins, relationship with power, development of gladiator games, and social role.
Continuing in Alcalá de Henares, «El alma de la jarra. Cacharrería y Ceramics se operan desde la época de Cervantes» focuses on the popular Manchegan ceramics and its connection to the Golden Age. This exhibition is on display at the Museo de la Casa Natal de Cervantes until September 21st.
In Móstoles, the Museo del Centro Dos de Mayo de la Comunidad Madrid (CA2M) offers an exhibition dedicated to Mexican artist Jorge Satorre, titled «Estuario» until August 31st. Accompanying this exhibition is «Infinite Rope Game Under the Sun», a proposal by illustrator María Medem that occupies the walls of the center with her drawings, as well as the staircase and library with works in various textiles.
The regional administration will host a total of ten temporary exhibitions in 2025 for the 77 municipalities in the Red Itiner network. These exhibitions cover a wide range of themes, including contemporary creations like «Francisco está loco en Madrid de la primera vanguardia» to «Tirando del hilo. Idiomas textiles en arte contemporáneo». The exhibitions also delve into graphic arts with showcases like «Salvador Dalí. Comedia divina» and «El espíritu del samurai. Sellos de honor y valor japoneses».
Other exhibitions include «Piensa en el cómic. Un viaje a través del arte de la narrativa gráfica» and photography displays such as «Jordi Socias. Al final de los escapultos», «1975. Tercer cambio», «Centenary Madrid. La sabiduría de la longevidad», and «Región. Foto, paisaje y patrimonio».
Visitors can also explore «Flamenco. Joana Basque en el palacio de Liria» until July 31st, organized by the Fundación Alba Casa with sponsorship from the regional government.
Friday, May 9th
Réquiem (s)
Ballet Preljocaj
20:00 – Concha Velasco Hall – Teatros del Canal, MADRID
Un error sublime
Necessity
Until May 18th at 20:00 – José Luis Alonso Hall – Teatro Abbey, MADRID
El rey en la caza
Antonio Soler – Francisco García Vicente
19:00 – Real Coliseo Carlos III, San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Programming for the 40th Madrid Dance Festival of the Community of Madrid
Saturday, May 10th
Norma
Antonio Ruz
19:30 – Sala Verde – Teatros del Canal, MADRID
Temblor
Andrea se movió
20:00 – Concha Velasco Hall – Teatros del Canal, MADRID
En llamas
Enma Arquillué and Pablo Macho Otero
19:30 – Comedias Corrales, Alcalá de Henares
Especies
Harrison Herman and Ingartze Astuy
19:00 – Real Coliseo Carlos III, San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Programming for the 40th Madrid Dance Festival of the Community of Madrid
Sunday, May 11th
Don Juan no existe
Helena Cánvas and Alberto Iglesias
Until May 11th at 7:30 p.m. – Sala Negra – Teatros del Canal, MADRID
Pic – Nic
Fernando Arbal and Luciano García Lorenzo
12:30 – Real Coliseo Carlos III, San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Programming for the 40th Madrid Dance Festival of the Community of Madrid
Museums and Exhibitions
José Luis Alonso Mañes: una vida para el teatro
Until May 25, 2025 – Cristóbal Portillo Chamber at El Águila complex, MADRID
Flamenco. Joana Basque en el palacio de Liria
Until July 31, 2025 – Palacio de Liria, MADRID
Jorge Satorre. Estuario
Until August 31, 2025 – Museo Artro Dos de Mayo Ca2m, Madrid
El alma de la jarra. Cacharrería y los oficios de cerámica desde la época de Cervantes
Until September 21, 2025 – Museo Natal de la Casa en Cervantes, Alcalá de Henares
¡Hispano! Gladiadores en el Imperio Romano
Until September 28, 2025 – Museo Arqueológico y Paleontológico de la Comunidad en Madrid (Marpa), Alcalá de Henares
El programa Red Itiner 2025
