The University of Cádiz, the SEA-EU Alliance, and the AFYEC Association hosted an inspiring cultural event at the historic Santa Catalina Castle, where 123 students from 12 Spanish and European universities came together in a vibrant dance showcase that combined creativity, social awareness, and cross-border collaboration.
The event brought together two university initiatives: the SEA-EU Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) entitled “Dance, Cities, Natural Environments and Sustainability”, coordinated by UCA professors Carmen Padilla, Milkana Borges and Inmaculada Álvarez, and the 15th Inter-University Dance Group Meeting, organised by AFYEC, also chaired by Professor Padilla.
Throughout the morning, dance groups shared choreographies that blended diverse cultures and styles, addressing powerful themes such as sustainability, education, and mental health. As a grand finale, all participants joined in a collective performance symbolising the universality of dance as a language. More than 30 faculty members supported and guided the students throughout this experience, which attracted hundreds of attendees.
The performance highlighted the emerging talent of students from the universities of Cádiz, Salamanca, Barcelona, Lleida, Alcalá, and Rey Juan Carlos, alongside SEA-EU partner universities: Nord University (Norway), University of Split (Croatia), University of Malta (Malta), Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (Germany), and Université de Bretagne Occidentale (France).
This large-scale artistic display marked the closing of the SEA-EU BIP, held in Cádiz from April 23 to 27. During the week, participants engaged in workshops such as “Dance, Cities and Natural Environments”, “Sensing the City”, “Body Expression and Natural Resources”, as well as urban and traditional dance sessions including Cuban salsa and flamenco, in collaboration with the Flamenco Art Centre La Merced.
The programme offered a fully immersive experience across multiple venues: the Puerto Real and Cádiz campuses, the city’s historic centre (thanks to spaces made available by the Cádiz City Council, such as La Merced and Santa Catalina Castle), and natural sites like the Algaida Natural Park. The aim was to explore the deep connection between movement, urban life, and environmental sustainability.
This final showcase emphasised the power of the arts as a tool for awareness and the unique ability of dance to build bridges across cultures, regions, and generations.
