FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Men Who Dance, the acclaimed South Florida festival celebrating the artistry, athleticism and expressive power of male dancers, returns for its seventh annual edition on Saturday, November 28, 2026, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, November 29, 2026, at 3 p.m. at the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Recognized by the Broward Center as the largest all-male dance festival in the United States, Men Who Dance brings together artists from South Florida, across the nation and around the world for a wide-ranging program of classical ballet, contemporary dance and culturally rooted movement. The festival celebrates male dancers while challenging narrow ideas about masculinity and expanding how strength, vulnerability, partnership and identity can be represented onstage.
A highlight of the 2026 program will be a new ballet created by former Miami City Ballet principal dancer and choreographer Nathalia Arja Janvion for six dancers from Miami City Ballet. The work marks a notable contribution from one of South Florida's most recognizable ballet artists and adds a new choreographic voice to a festival known for presenting original work alongside repertory by established companies and guest artists. Additional information about the ballet, including its title and music, will be announced by the festival.
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Arja Janvion is known for the dramatic intensity, musicality and technical strength of her performances with Miami City Ballet. Her participation as a choreographer brings an additional dimension to the festival, connecting the region's distinguished ballet tradition with Men Who Dance's continuing commitment to new work and fresh perspectives.
The festival has also become an important platform for choreographers to premiere new works, some of which continue into the repertories of other companies and artists. In addition to Arja Janvion's ballet, the 2026 program will feature choreography performed by an expanded roster of South Florida and international companies. Titles and choreographic credits for additional individual works had not been publicly announced at the time of this release and will be shared as they are confirmed.
Each edition of Men Who Dance presents a fast-moving collection of performances spanning multiple dance forms and cultural traditions. Rather than offering a single definition of the male dancer, the festival places different styles, bodies, backgrounds and artistic viewpoints side by side. The result is an accessible theatrical experience for longtime dance audiences as well as people discovering concert dance for the first time.
The expanded 2026 lineup includes South Florida companies Miami City Ballet, Dance NOW! Miami, Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida and Syncopate Dance Collective. International participants announced for the festival include Ballet Nacional del Sodre, Cisne Negro of Brazil, Compania Nacional de Danza de Mexico and Argentina's Tropilla Malambo.
Tango champion twins German and Nico Filipelli will return to Men Who Dance following a two-year absence, bringing the precision, musicality and dramatic partnership of Argentine tango back to the festival. The 2026 program will also showcase artists from San Juan, Puerto Rico, through the Men Who Dance Global extension, further expanding the event's international exchange of dancers, movement traditions and choreographic perspectives.
Created and produced by Rafi Maldonado-Lopez through the Inter-American Choreographic Institute, Men Who Dance has developed into an annual South Florida cultural event with an international reach. From its beginning, the festival has offered male artists a prominent platform while using dance to celebrate, question, deconstruct and redefine conventional notions of masculinity.
"The essence and purpose of Men Who Dance is not to promote any agendas, or even come to conclusions," Maldonado-Lopez said. "It is about engaging in the process of deconstructing the stereotypes of men, reevaluating what masculinity is on and off the stage, and encouraging and daring artists to explore them."
Audience response has helped fuel the festival's growth. Men Who Dance currently holds a 4.7-out-of-5 rating based on 38 Ticketmaster reviews. Viewers have praised the program's variety, international representation, inventive choreography and ability to welcome audiences who may not regularly attend dance performances.
TICKETS:
Tickets are $25 to $45. Student and senior tickets are $25. Tickets are available through the Broward Center at website, through Ticketmaster and by calling the Broward Center box office. Applicable service charges may apply, and prices are subject to change. The program is recommended for ages 12 and older.
PARKING:
Parking is available in the Arts & Entertainment District Garage, with payment available by meter or through the ParkMobile app. Valet service may also be available. Patrons are encouraged to arrive early; the Broward Center lobby opens one hour before each performance.
