Gala de Danza, the international dance, music, and art festival will have its London premiere on Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th June at Central Hall Westminster.
Gala de Danza founded by former American Ballet Theatre Dancer Christina Lyon, brings together an unparalleled cast of artists, fusing classical ballet, contemporary dance, opera, and Latin ballroom to create a once in a lifetime experience for London audiences.
The exceptional line-up of world-class talent includes Principals of The Royal Ballet César Corrales, Francesca Hayward, and Melissa Hamilton; New York City Ballet’s Andrés Zúñiga and Principal Emma Von Enck; Principal of Bayerisches Staatsballett Jinhao Zhang; Paris Opera Ballet artist Shale Wagman; and English National Ballet Soloist Vsevolod Maievskyi.
Gala de Danza also presents work by internationally acclaimed choreographer Juliano Nunes. Known for pushing the boundaries of contemporary ballet, Juliano has created works for The Royal Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Glastonbury performance last year, as well as for artists Penelope Cruz and FKA Twigs.
The programme features a world premiere by Emma Evelein, performed by Rambert. It also includes a new work by Jade Hale-Christofi with music by Ilan Eshkeri, showcasing Jinhao Zhang, 2024 UK Professional Latin Champions Anton Sboev and Patrizia Ranis, Sadeck Berrabah’s hypnotic Murmuration—transforming human movement into stunning visual art—and Braylon Browner, a 2024 So You Think You Can Dance Top 8 finalist. Emerging talent from Youth America Grand Prix and Trinity Laban will also be highlighted in a special showcase.
Gala de Danza’s musical performers include William Close and The Earth Harp, a colossal stringed instrument that amazed audiences at Coachella and Burning Man; Jakub Józef Orliński, the vibrant Polish countertenor fusing classical music with pop culture; and Marcin, the celebrated guitarist fresh from a sold-out world tour.
For Gala de Danza’s London edition, renowned sculptor David Begbie will showcase his distinctive wire-mesh artworks in the foyer of Central Hall Westminster for audiences to witness before and after the performances.
A passionate advocate for the profound positive impact the arts have on the world, founder and artistic director Christina Lyon has generously made hundreds of free tickets available for students in London to see this rich cultural experience for free.
Established in Los Cabos, Mexico in 2013, Gala de Danza has grown into a revolutionary celebration of talent across art forms, presenting unique theatrical productions featuring established artists from around the world alongside the next generation of talent. Gala de Danza has previously been held at architectural award-winning venues including the Viceroy Los Cabos hotel. These London performances mark a milestone in its global journey with plans for future editions to be held in the Middle East and beyond.
Christina Lyon, founder and artistic director of Gala de Danza, channels her passion for the arts, advocating for their transformative power and supporting the next generation of emerging talent.
“After over a decade of redefining dance and live performance in Mexico, Gala de Danza is now making its mark on the global stage. London, with its rich dance tradition and international audience, is the ideal destination to expand our vision of artistic excellence,” Lyon says.
For an up-to-date line-up please see: www.galadedanza.com.
