2024
The XXX edition of dFERIA more international than ever
The 2024 edition of dFERIA continues to roll out the internationalisation process of recent years, particularly with its eyes set on Europe. Italy was this year’s guest country thanks to collaboration of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Madrid. Four Italian companies attended the event: Fondazione Nazionale della Danza / Aterballetto, Brian Scalini, Fabiana Iacozzilli I Cranpi and Compagnia blucinQue.
The 25 companies to have participated in this edition brought 25 shows performed in 34 different functions. As far as the selected proposals are concerned, note that a large percentage of the shows (60%) had their premieres at dFERIA in one way or another. From the point of view of disciplines, 52% of the programme was made up of theatre, 44% of dance and 4% of other disciplines.
The number of accredited guests beat all dFERIA records, showing a rise compared to 2023 verging on 14%, with 614 professionals. Of these, 228 were programmers, 76 distribution companies, 204 production companies or company representatives, 55 institutions, 23 journalists and reviewers and 28 from other sectors. Note that the number of international professionals also rose strongly with an increase of almost 27% compared to 2023. This edition had 71 international accredited guests, 49 of whom were international programmers and festival representatives. Said international guests hailed from countries including Italy, Lithuania, Ukraine, Finland, Slovenia, Georgia, Norway, Chile, Uruguay, Colombia and Brazil.
Key data
- 14.200 participants
- 25 companies, 34 functions, 30 stage hours
- 614 professionals, 18 press conferences, 8 stages
Theme for 2024: Utopia
dFERIA, the Donostia / San Sebastián Performing Arts Fair, is a must-attend event and leading national reference for performing arts professionals. From 11-14 March, professional activities and performances alternated, making San Sebastián the focal point for the performing arts.
Highlights
Beginning of the fair. Victoria Eugenia Theater. (Photo: Gorka Bravo).
Masterclass with Iratxe Ansa and Igor Bacovich (Photo: Gorka Bravo).
Professional activities
- Miradas Cruzadas meeting
The Crossed Perspectives. The performing arts in action meeting stems from the need to generate spaces for reflection on the future of the performing arts and the challenges facing the sector. It also aims to endorse the role of the performing arts as a paradigm of knowledge. The meeting is the result of the collaboration between Donostia Kultura and the Fundación María Pagés and takes the shape of two round tables with different themes. Round table on the theatre. The theatre, shared heritage and inheritance in the era of artificial intelligence and Round table on dance. Why is it necessary to programme dance? - Masterclass: Metamorphosis Method I Iratxe Ansa + Igor Bacovich
The workshop focuses on the work methodology created by Iratxe Ansa and Igor Bacovich based on their own experience, driven by their curiosity and interests and from the need to create their own work tools. The workshop is for dance professionals and advanced level students and is structured into three areas: physical work, guided improvisation and choreographic material (extract from Rhapsody in Blue). - Business Forum
5-minute speed talks between artists and those responsible for local, national and international programming, distributed into tables and organised according to shared interests. - Kalez kale meeting
During dFERIA, a series of informal meetings take place between the representatives of companies and national and international cultural agents present at dFERIA, with the aim of sharing knowledge and creating future collaboration links. These take the shape of casual walks around the city to discover its most traditional areas. - Presentations
- Meetings
Companies
- Alberto San Juan, Cía Nacional de Teatro Clásico, EQM
- Akira Yoshida & Lali Ayguadé
- Aterballetto-Centro Coreografico Nazionale
- Cía Analógica
- Cidanz Producciones
- Cielo rasO
- Compagnia blucinQue
- Compañía Perbacco
- El mono habitado
- Erre Produkzioak
- Fabiana Iacozzilli I Cranpi
- Fernando López & Germain Boungou
- María de Melo Producciones
- Melania Olcina
- Miramedia
- Khea Ziater
- Kukai Dantza + Jesús Rubio Gamo
- Kulunka Teatro
- La Bella Otero
- Lasala
- Pérez & Disla
- Tanttaka Teatroa
- Vaivén Producciones
Bihar arte soilik. Erre produkzioak. (Photo: Gorka Bravo).
La sed del minotauro. Khea Ziater. (Photo: Gorka Bravo).