“Deciding to make the Cannes – Côte d’Azur Dance Festival an annual event is a way of affirming the central place of culture in our vision of society. Dance, through the physical and artistic discipline it demands, its emotional power and its universal poetic language, is a lever for openness and cohesion. It links generations, nurtures education and encourages the sharing of essential values in a world in search of reference points. “
“By producing the Festival de Danse every year, the Palais des Festivals confirms its major role in cultural life, both in Cannes and internationally. This ambitious event enhances the attractiveness of our region and gives as many people as possible access to a demanding programme, open to the diversity of choreographic forms and the dialogue of cultures. “
A programme to take you on a journey through the diversity of dance
24 ballets and companies from 8 countries will be showcasing the vitality of the international dance scene, with new works, repertory pieces and shows combining dance and live music. Some of the works are inspired by traditional dances – flamenco, fado or even South African dance – and add their own special touch to this year’s festival, which puts the spotlight on great choreographic forms.A case in point is the opening night, with the French premiere of Marcos Morau’s Afanador and 40 dancers from the Spanish National Ballet: a striking encounter between contemporary dance, flamenco and the black-and-white visual universe of photographer Ruven Afanador.
MOV'IN Cannes: dance meets film
Following the success of its first edition in 2023, the international dance film competition, under the artistic direction of Didier Deschamps and Éric Oberdorff, reveals a programme of short films in which the body in movement becomes emotion, language and mirror of the world. The event encourages artistic dialogue between the younger generation and professionals, involving students and international festivals in the selection of works, creating a genuine space for exchange and encounters.
The Festival unveils the MOV’IN Cannes 2025 Jury:
– Marion Barbeau, dancer and actress (president)
– Laure Cayla, director of the cité des entreprises, Cannes Bastide Rouge production studios
– Nancy Berthier, director of the Casa de Velázquez
– José Montalvo, choreographer, director and video artist
– Cynthia Odier, director of the Fluxum Foundation
– Sjón, Icelandic poet and screenwriter
A festival serving artists and creativity
Because dance is reinventing itself, the event is making way for new writing with five new creations: ENSO-Boléro by Mickaël Le Mer, On n’est pas toutes des Cendrillons by Eugénie Andrin, The Protagonist by Lorena Nogal, No Matter by compagnie Hervé Koubi and Louis Lui by Companhia Paulo Ribeiro with the Orchestre national de Cannes. Round tables, meetings and the sharing of experiences will also punctuate this 25th edition to reflect on the challenges of choreographic production and the issues involved in making dance films.
Youth and training at the heart of the festival
The Festival gives a central place to awareness-raising and transmission, through school performances, touring shows, workshops and master-classes open to all audiences. From 13 October, the solo Cypher (Enso), designed by Mickaël Le Mer, will be presented in schools, offering students a special encounter with the art of choreography. Thanks to its partnership with the Pôle National Supérieur de Danse Rosella Hightower and, in particular, the Cannes Jeune Ballet, a genuine tool for professional integration, the Festival gives young dancers the chance to work with international choreographers. This year, these artistic encounters will take place as close as possible to the audience, through original site-specific performances.
A local and international dynamic
Since 2019, the Festival has brought together cultural players from the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var to work on an ambitious joint project, supported by a rich, diverse and accessible programme. The event’s move to an annual rhythm consolidates this collaborative dynamic and affirms dance as a major art form on the Côte d’Azur, while strengthening its identity and cultural visibility internationally.
Portrait Didier Deschampstra 6386credit Gilles Traverso“This year’s edition embodies the vitality of choreographic creation and the energy of the artists we support. For me, it’s an opportunity and a responsibility to be able to offer the public such a rich and inspiring panorama. I’d like to thank the City of Cannes, the Palais des Festivals and our partners: their support makes this great celebration of dance possible, defending the values of freedom and tolerance that are essential in today’s world. I would also like to express my gratitude to the MOV’IN Cannes jury, and in particular to Marion Barbeau, a highly talented dancer and actress, who has agreed to chair the jury, thereby helping to raise the profile of this international competition. “
Next event: Monday 13 October 2025 at 12 noon at the Georges Méliès university campus in Cannes for the show“Cypher“(Enso) choreographed by Mickaël Le Mer and performed by Vanessa Petit. This will be the first date of a tour that will continue in the schools of Cannes.
