The “On Marche” Festival 2025: A Celebration of Contemporary Dance in Marrakech, Highlighting Africa, Youth, and Hope

The 18th Edition of the International Contemporary Dance Festival ‘On Marche’

The 18th edition of the International Contemporary Dance Festival, On Marche, will take place from April 4 to April 12 in Marrakech, highlighting four fundamental values: hope, youth, the audience, and Africa. As in previous years, the festival will transform the city into a vibrant artistic crossroads, featuring performances, screenings, discussions, masterclasses, and showcases from both Moroccan and international artists.

This year’s edition will welcome companies from Belgium, France, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Spain, and Lebanon, enriching the program with a diverse range of free performances.

Over the years, the festival has played a crucial role in establishing contemporary dance as a recognized art form in Morocco, thanks to the support of long-time partners such as the Wilaya of Marrakech-Safi, the Marrakech-Safi Regional Council, Es Saadi Marrakech Resort, the French Institute, and the Higher School of Visual Arts (ESAV-Marrakech), among others. In 2025, the festival will reach a new milestone with the signing of a three-year agreement between the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication and On Marche, opening up new perspectives for the development of contemporary dance in Morocco.

Taoufiq Izeddiou, the founder and director of the festival, emphasized that this partnership marks a turning point in supporting artistic creation and its transmission to younger generations. Another collaboration with the Wallonia-Brussels Federation will allow three Belgian artists to perform in Morocco for the first time, thus fostering cultural exchanges.

The festival also continues its mission to support young talents through Nafass – On Marche, the country’s first school dedicated to choreographic arts. The TAKLIF Award, established three years ago, supports young choreographers with artistic residencies in Morocco and abroad to develop their initial creations. The winners of the 2023 and 2024 editions will present their works at this year’s festival.

A significant new initiative this year is the introduction of a three-year training program, in partnership with the Dar Bellarj Foundation, aimed at about thirty adolescents. They have begun their training with internationally renowned dancer and choreographer Bernardo Montet. The result of this work will be showcased in a performance titled "Melach, the Salt of the Stars. Opus 1" (France / Morocco) on Wednesday, April 9, at the Dar Bellarj Foundation.

The festival continues to enhance public participation in the choreographic experience. A unique participatory project will bring together 70 dancers and non-dancers for a public performance, directed this year by choreographer Olivier Dubois. This project, titled "Parade," will take place in the Jemaâ El-Fna square on Saturday, April 12, providing a new way for the public to engage with dance.

Finally, the festival will celebrate Africa through several standout performances. Notable events include "Black" by Oulouy (Spain / Côte d’Ivoire) on Monday, April 7; "Trois fois seul" by Salia Sanou (Burkina Faso) on Tuesday, April 8; and "Danser la Boza" (concept by Taoufiq Izeddiou / documentary by Khalid Mouna) on Thursday, April 10.

With this new edition, On Marche continues to advocate for a vision of dance that transcends borders, engaging with contemporary realities, the struggles and dreams of Africa, while welcoming all external perspectives and influences.