Joinville Dance Festival 2026

The 43rd Joinville Dance Festival in Santa Catarina continued to showcase Brazil's premier dance talent. On 26 July, veteran Brazilian dancer Marcelo Mourão Gomes performed a farewell classical program, partnering with Royal Swedish Ballet principal Luiza Lopes and announcing his retirement from classical repertoire while remaining with the Wiener Staatsballett. The same night featured 13‑year‑old Lucas Nascimento, a young dancer from Ceará, debuting his first competition performance at the festival.

The following day, the Fundação de Arte e Cultura de Ubatuba sent a ballet troupe to represent its municipality at the same event. The Ubatuba Ballet, mentored by teacher Alessandra and endorsed by FUNDART president Durval Netto, performed alongside other competitors, highlighting the festival’s role in providing a national stage for regional ensembles.

In the days that followed, the Fundart ballet workshop earned a bronze medal in the Jazz category and placed fifth overall, performing a series of pieces on the festival’s open‑stage venues. Students from the Parque Diamante + Energia program in Capivari de Baixo secured multiple top‑place finishes, including first‑place Jazz Duo Junior and first‑place Brazilian Popular Dances – Children’s Group, and were named Best Group of the Festival with a nomination for Best Choreographer. The 13‑day event attracted more than 16,000 registered participants and over 350,000 spectators, underscoring the strength of Brazil’s regional dance training programs.

Organizers from the Instituto Festival de Dança de Joinville emphasized the festival’s broader cultural impact, citing ongoing projects such as the Museum of Dance, the Saltare Centro de Dança, and extensive school outreach programs that support thousands of students and preserve Brazil’s dance heritage.