Neon Dance to open LEV Matadero with Spanish premiere of Last and First Men

One Dance UK member Neon Dance will open this year's LEV Matadero festival in Madrid with the Spanish premiere of Last and First Men, placing a UK contemporary dance company at the forefront of one of Europe's leading festivals for audiovisual performance, digital art and immersive technologies. Taking place from 17–20 September, LEV Matadero has established an international reputation for presenting ambitious work that crosses artistic disciplines. Its programme brings together contemporary performance, digital art, electronic music and immersive technologies, attracting artists and audiences from around the world.

Opening a festival carries particular significance, with the opening performance often chosen to establish the artistic identity of the programme and set the tone for the days that follow. In announcing this year's edition, LEV described Last and First Men as "one of the most anticipated proposals of this edition". For Neon Dance, the invitation also reflects the growing appetite for contemporary dance within interdisciplinary festivals, where choreography sits alongside music, digital art and new technologies to reach audiences beyond traditional dance settings.

Adrienne Hart, Artistic Director of Neon Dance, said: "To open LEV Matadero is a real honour for everyone involved in Last and First Men. It's a festival that champions bold, interdisciplinary work, so it's an exciting place for the production to make its Spanish premiere. I'd encourage other dance companies to think ambitiously about where their work could take them. International opportunities don't happen overnight, but they do happen. Keep making the work you believe in, build relationships, stay open to new conversations and don't be afraid to aim for the opportunities that feel just beyond reach. You never know where your work might travel."

The performance will take place at Matadero Madrid, one of Spain's foremost contemporary arts centres. The booking continues the international journey of Last and First Men, which has previously been presented in Berlin, The Hague, Melbourne and Hasselt, as well as venues across the UK, before making its Spanish premiere at LEV Matadero. As dance continues to connect with fields including technology, digital art and sound, festivals such as LEV are creating new opportunities for UK companies to reach different audiences and demonstrate the breadth of contemporary choreographic practice on an international stage.