Saturday, NOV 28, 2026 at 8PM | Sunday, NOV 29, 2026 at 3PM
November in Broward County is an exciting month. There’s always lots to see and do, especially in the arts. And “lucky” for us, one of November’s most treasured events, the annual Men Who Dance festival, will be returning to the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts for two extraordinary performances, Saturday, November 28, 2026 at 8PM and Sunday, November 29 at 3PM. Once again, Artistic Director, Rafi Maldonado-Lopez has assembled a spectacular group of dance companies and guest artists, some of whom will be returning to the festival and some who are new. The festival will feature many of our premier local dance companies; Miami City Ballet, Dimensions Dance Theater of Miami, Dance NOW! Miami, Syncopate Dance Collective and Arts Ballet Theater of South Florida alongside phenomenal male dancers from Uruguay, Brazil, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
The festival, which began in 2020, has grown from 15 dancers from eight companies to last year’s 50-plus dancers from over fifteen companies. This year, as in the past, audiences can expect a wonderful array of dance styles and music; from Classical and Neoclassical Ballet, to Contemporary, Modern, Hip Hop, Jazz and Funk. Returning after a three-year absence, will be identical twins and award-winning Ballroom Tango champions, German and Nicolas Filipelli. Also returning will be Tropilla Malambo, a high-energy Gaucho trio that stopped the show last year with their impressive mastery of drumming, folk dances, whips, and “boleadoras.” And for the many returning audience members who have come to expect a thrilling opening number, Rafi Maldonado-Lopez promises not to disappoint. “Folks waiting in the lobby are frequently overhead saying, ‘I wonder how the show will start this year.’” Maldonado-Lopez adds. “From musicians to opera singers, to acrobats, to Native American nations, one doesn’t know what to expect. This year will be no exception as we continue to build another exciting lineup of dancers.”
“The goal of the Men Who Dance festival remains the same as it was the very first year, which is simply to ‘normalize the presence of men in dance,’” states Maldonado-Lopez. International Production Manager, Clayton de Oliveira adds, “One of the most exciting parts of the festival is seeing how each company draws inspiration from the previous edition. Men Who Dance is also about creating space for the new. We are thrilled to continue welcoming emerging choreographers and presenting original, never-before-seen works. There is something very special about watching an artist take a risk, create something from scratch, and then see that work come alive on the stage of the Amaturo before a live audience.”
Maldonado-Lopez and de Oliveira start planning the show each year in January. “With more than 45 artists traveling from different parts of the world, there is an enormous amount of planning behind what the audience ultimately experiences as a seamless performance,” De Oliveira explains. “When the audience sees what looks like effortless magic on stage, we know the countless hours of planning, precision, and teamwork were worth it!”
Whether you are a dance aficionado or just enjoy a thrilling evening in the theater, Men Who Dance is for you. It’s an event that historically sells out fast, so get your tickets today by visiting the Broward Center for Performing Arts website at www.BrowardCenter.org.
