Lugano – Morocco Dance Competition will return for its fifth edition from April 16-19 in Rabat, continuing its mission to promote young dance talent in Morocco.
Organized by the Tenor Foundation for Culture, the competition has become an important platform for the country’s choreographic scene, encouraging creativity and artistic development among young performers.
Participants aged 8 to 25 will compete in several choreographic styles, including classical dance, contemporary dance, urban dance, and free dance.
A diverse artistic program
The competition will allow participants to perform solo, in duos, or in groups, depending on the category.
The artistic program aims to showcase the diversity of dance practiced by young performers across Morocco.
Beyond the competition itself, the event also seeks to support the artistic development of participants.
Each dancer will receive individual feedback from the jury, offering guidance designed to help improve technique and artistic expression.
An international panel of judges
The 2026 edition will be judged by an international jury composed of dancers and choreographers from various disciplines.
The panel will be chaired by Jean-Marc Thill, a renowned dancer and teacher who previously performed with major European companies, including the Berlin State Opera Ballet, the Opera national du Rhin, and Béjart Ballet Lausanne.
The jury also features Mounir Makhloufi, a hip-hop artist who will oversee the urban dance category.
In 2001 he founded the Rage2danse company, and later launched Moon Performance in 2011, an organization dedicated to training a new generation of high-level dancers while continuing his own creative projects.
Spanish dancer Olivia Escribano Mendieta will represent the contemporary dance category.
She took part in the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympic Games in 2024 and currently teaches dance in Belgium while pursuing projects as an independent artist.
Together, the jury members represent a broad range of dance backgrounds, reflecting the competition’s objective of bringing together different choreographic traditions.
Supporting emerging dance talent
In addition to the performances, the competition will feature free workshops open to the public, led by Moroccan and international dance professionals.
These sessions will allow participants and dance enthusiasts to explore different choreographic approaches and interact with experienced artists.
Through its fifth edition, the Morocco Dance Competition aims to further establish itself as a key event for young dancers in Morocco, offering them a platform to showcase their talent while contributing to the development of the country’s dance scene.
