A multidisciplinary programme in honour of Kukai Dantza in Madrid

The Fernán Gómez theatre in Madrid will host a series of cultural activities from April 4^th to 7^th in honour of Kukai Dantza. The Basque dance company directed by choreographer Jon Maya received Spain’s National Dance Award last year, and in celebration, has created a multidisciplinary programme focused on their latest production, Erritu.

The Fernán Gómez theatre in Madrid will host a series of cultural activities from April 4^th to 7^th in honour of Kukai Dantza. The Basque dance company directed by choreographer Jon Maya received Spain’s National Dance Award last year, and in celebration, has created a multidisciplinary programme focused on their latest production, Erritu.

The event will start on April 4^th with a dance gala at Guirau hall. Kukai Dantza will perform sharing the stage with other artists that have accompanied them through their career, including Lucía Lacarra, Antonio Najarro, Iñaki Salvador and María Berasarte. They will also perform pieces by other choreographers such as Marcos Morau, Sharon Fridman, Cesc Gelabert, as well as Jon Maya himself.

The audience will have the chance to see the premiere of Kukai’s most recent choreography, Erritu (Rite). This piece is the culmination of a collaboration between the dance company and Israeli choreographer Sharon Fridman, with support from the Etxepare Basque Institute. Based on an original idea by Jon Maya, Fridman then created a choreography that the Kukai Dantza dancers have taken to the stage. The piece reflects the stages of life’s journey through individual and collective rites: from birth, to chaos, to crossing the dessert of loneliness, to finding harmony and love, and eventually, death. The shows will be performed on April 5^th (8.30 p.m.), April 6^th (8.30 p.m.) and April 7^th (7.30 p.m.) at Guirau hall.

A series of multidisciplinary activities, grouped together under Bocaditos con Kukai dantza (Morsels with Kukai dantza), is also on this four-day calendar of events. A documentary on the creative process of Kukai Dantza called Oskara: si quieres saber quién eres, baila (Oskara: if you want to know who you are, dance) will be shown on April 4^th. On April 5^th pianist Iñaki Salvador will give a concert accompanied by Kukai Dantza. On April 6^th, new choreographers will have the chance to show their work to the public. Finally, on Sunday April 7^th, the band Juan Mari Beltrán + Trio will offer a performance on txalaparta (a Basque traditional wooden percussion), Ttakun Ttakun, featuring dancers from Kukai. All of these events will take place at the Jardiel Poncela theatre.

Check the programme and get the tickets here.