Contemporary dance returns this week to the streets of Benidorm in the fourth edition of Les Ones festival

Contemporary dance returns this week to the streets of Benidorm with Les Ones festival, which is now in its fourth edition and which “marks the beginning of the summer cultural programme”, as pointed out by the councillor for the department, Jaime Jesús Pérez.

A festival, he explained, that was born with the idea of ​​“promoting contemporary dance and promoting it on the streets, so that residents and tourists of all ages can enjoy it” and also doing so “in such emblematic places” as those that in these four editions, Plaça del Castell, Parque de Elche or Plaza de la Hispanidad.

Precisely Plaça del Castell is going to be the main stage of this fourth edition, in which "the programming is concentrated in three days, from Thursday the 27th to Saturday the 29th" and in which the companies Elelei, Marroch and Jacob Gómez will participate and the interpreters Lorena Nogal, Lucía Aznar and Pau Barreda.

In addition to the shows, the festival will once again feature workshops by some of the companies and dancers of this edition. These workshops, each lasting two hours, will take place in the morning at the cultural centre and require prior registration.

These workshops are a differentiating element of Les Ones compared to other competitions, according to Hugo Seguí, a dance lover from Benidorm who has already participated in this training offered in previous editions. Specifically, Seguí ​​pointed out that through these workshops “dancers from the region who do not have the privilege of going to a super famous school can train at home”, a “beautiful”, “very educational” and “enriching” experience in the that “dynamics” are discovered and “movements” from different styles are incorporated.

The mayor of Culture has shown himself to be “very happy” with the “work” and “path” of this festival directed by Lydia Lara from Benidorm which has the support and involvement of the Department and has invited the resident and tourist population to attend and let yourself be seduced by contemporary dance.

Programming

During the press conference, Pérez reported on the festival's programming, which, as is traditional, will begin with a show by the dance schools and the Municipal Conservatory and that "for us, it is very important because it creates a link between the students of the city and professional dance," the mayor explained, giving "the opportunity" to those "who are in a training period" to be an active part of the festival "not only as spectators but as performers." This first event will be on Thursday the 27th at 8:30 p.m. at Plaza SSMM Reyes de España, and will be followed by 'A ciegas' by Elelei Company, “a dance-theatre piece that makes us participate in a game as simple as covering the eyes. eyes on someone.”

On Friday, between 9:30 and 11:30, this same company will give the first workshops at the cultural centre. In the afternoon, at 8:30 p.m. at Plaça del Castell, 'Cuando rugen las flores' will be premiered exclusively, "a creation by the young Valencians Lucia Aznar and Pau Barreda and performed by themselves."

Next, the Elelei company presents the piece 'Soy Madera', "a solo performed by Sabrina Gargano that tries to delve into rage through the female body, an engine that never stops despite exhaustion." At 10:30 p.m. it will be the turn of Ta-K-Ta, “a piece from the Alicante company Marroch that received the Miguel Hernández Alicante Culture Award 2023 in the category of Innovation through technologies, and that proposes a trip about the experience of life and how to accept that everything has an end.”

On Saturday, June 29, the last day, it will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the workshop by Valencian Jacob Gómez, a professional dancer and international choreographer. Two hours later, the workshop of the dancer Lorena Nogal will take place, “distinguished as best dancer at the 2016 Catalan Critics Awards and an expert in the KOVA method, a movement language that she has developed in recent years with the company. La Veronal”, Pérez has transferred.

The fourth edition of Les Ones will conclude at 8:30 p.m. in Plaça del Castell and with the piece 'Meohadim' by Cía Jacob Gómez, “a piece inspired by his 5 sisters and that runs through several scenarios inspired by his childhood ”. The final touch of the festival will be 'Elogio de la fisura by Lorena Nogal', “a manifesto about mutations and the process of change, about what is built from doubt and darkness; “a beauty search that emerges from the acceptance of the imperfect.”