CANAL is a project of the National Dance Center of Paris aimed at creating a common space-time to showcase artists and projects linked to the dance sector. It serves as an exchange platform for artists, programmers, and managers, with Catalonia being the invited territory for its 2024 edition. Since 2020, CANAL has established itself as an event dedicated to promoting dance projects by artists and choreographers, providing an open platform for both French and international professionals. In 2024, Catalonia played the role of guest of honor. Throughout 2023, the invited structures worked on conceptualizing and designing what the 2024 meeting should entail.
On January 25th and 26th, 2024, Graner, along with five other structures from the Catalan choreographic scene (Danseu Festival, Feria de Tárrega, La Caldera, Deltebre Danza, and Mercat de les Flors), participated in CANAL: a meeting of professionals from the National Dance Center (CND). Each of the structures invited two companies at different stages of their artistic journey. Graner presented its associated artists Janet Novas and Soren Evinson. Danza Festival presented Raquel Gualtero and Wonderground; FiraTàrrega presented Big Bouncers and Moon Ribas & Quim Girón; La Caldera introduced Pol Jiménez and Georgia Vardarou; El Obrador/Deltebre Danza featured Lali Ayguadé and Pau Aran; and Mercat de les Flors presented Joaquín Collado and Paloma Muñoz.
CANAL has played a key role as a meeting point for Catalan dance entities, contributing to the recognition of creators within the artistic landscape. Moreover, it has provided a conducive platform to continue driving the creation of “CataLANDance,” aimed at internationalizing Catalan dance with a forecast for 2025. CANAL offers a shared space-time, a new way to showcase the projects and artists it supports. Each company is free to choose the format for presenting their project: brief excerpts, screenings, oral presentations, etc. Creative projects can be presented at different stages: in creation, seeking production means, or even completed projects seeking distribution. Canal thus becomes a space for exchange and networking among the present artists and programmers.
Participation boosted by Department of Culture, the Catalan Institute for Cultural Companies (ICEC), and its internationalization brand, Catalan Arts.