ilDance in Mérida: A Fusion of History, Dance, and Flamenco Magic!”

The third workshop and residency of ilDance in Mérida as part of the Dancing Histor(y)ies Project brought history, culture, and contemporary dance together in an unforgettable way!

Dancing Through History
Drawing inspiration from local traditions, ilDance incorporated elements of Spanish folk dance and even the legacy of Roman gladiators. The choreography, titled One Day We Will Be Statues, explored the untold humanity of gladiators, blending combat with tenderness and artistry.

Flamenco Meets Contemporary
The iconic Mantón de Manila, a tassel shawl central to Flamenco, became a focal point. Guided by Flamenco expert Fuensanta Blanco, the team discovered how the Mantón transforms movement and tested its possibilities on-site. What if the Mantón became a dancer in its own right?

Costumes Inspired by Tradition
Costumes, designed by Amanda Wisselgren, paid homage to Flamenco, bullfighting, and even Mérida’s ancient mosaics. With flowing skirts and symbolic elements, the designs brought a sense of shared history to the stage.

A Soundtrack of Mérida
Composer Didi Erez wove together Flamenco vocals, local rhythms, and everyday sounds—like church bells—to create a dynamic soundtrack that captured the spirit of the city.

ilDance’s journey through Mérida was a celebration of heritage and artistry, bridging the past and present through dance.

Don’t miss the incredible story behind this one-of-a-kind performance!

Location: Merida (Spain)
Date: 27. June – 07. July 2024
Organizer: Consorcio Festival Mérida
Dance Groups/artistic partners:  ilDance, 420PEOPLE
Other partners: Mapa das Ideias; Tourism Cluster of Extremadura
Local organizations: Consortium of the Monumental city of Merida; FEDAPA/Audiosigno; TAPTC Theatre; School/Augusto Mérida/ Greco-Latin Youth Festival; Tanit Divulgación Histórica/Emerita Augusta.

The project Dancing Histor(y)ies is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, Национален фонд „Култура“/ National Culture Fund, Bulgaria, Ministerstvo kultury České republiky, Kulturrådet  and cultural department of the Västra Götalandsregionen.