Naples International Dance Festival

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Naples International Dance Festival 2026 Partner Organizations

We are excited to welcome sponsoring organizations that will ensure the Naples IDF 2026 will be as huge a success as it was in 2025. We thank these organizations for their support and encourage you to support them as well.

Historic Weekend Celebrating Dance at United Arts Collier’s Inaugural Naples International Dance Festival

Naples, FL – From dazzling performances by prestigious dancers and companies like the Norwegian National Ballet and GALLIM, to classes led by the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and inspiring conversations led by Dr. Jenny Baxley Lee of the Shands Arts in Medicine program at the University of Florida, the first-ever Naples International Dance Festival was both a historic moment for our community and a resounding success. The inaugural festival featured over 40 artists and was an extraordinary celebration of dance, wellness, and uplifting our community through the beauty and power of the arts.

The weekend kicked off with a SOLD-OUT Opening Night performance which brought together some of the finest talent from across the globe. As the curtain rose, audiences were treated to spellbinding performances that left them abuzz, showcasing the brilliance of the world’s best dancers and choreographers here in Naples at the Norris Center. Audiences fortunate enough to attend the VIP Opening Night event even had an opportunity to meet and mingle with the international artists.

The second evening of performance featured new choreographic works selected by a juried panel comprised of illustrious leaders in the dance field including the Norwegian National Ballet Principal Dancer, Mellissa Hogue, former Miami City Ballet Principal Dancer and the Artistic Director of Gulfshore Ballet, Illiana Lopez, and former Paul Taylor Dance Company Dancer and Florida Gulf Coast University Adjunct Faculty, Francie Huber. It also fostered local creativity featuring one special local youth choreographer and dancer, Lily Harmic, whose talents greatly impressed even among the more seasoned choreographic voices.

In addition to breathtaking performances, the festival featured unique opportunities for locals to engage with two full days of educational classes and conversation. Local youth, some receiving UAC scholarships to attend, had the rare opportunity to work with a live musician and learn choreography from Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece, “Revelations,” dance workshops for all ages and abilities offered adults beginner ballet and improvisation classes, and a Dance for Parkinson’s Disease class was offered by local UAC teaching artist Isabel Castro, who is trained in the Mark Morris Dance Group’s research-backed Dance for PD program, which uses dance to improve health outcomes for people with Parkinson’s.

This year’s festival wasn’t just about the performances, classes, wellness, and conversation. It also provided interdisciplinary arts inspiration. UAC’s visionary festival attracted visual artists including the celebrated local painter Paul Arsenault, who captured dancers during their Opening Night rehearsals through beautiful sketches, and the renowned local artist Gene Schiavone, famous world-wide for his work as the dance photographer of the stars in the ballet world, who photographed the rehearsals and Opening Night performance.

“We could not have asked for a more spectacular celebration of dance for our community’s first international dance festival,” said Elysia Dawn, the CEO of United Arts Collier who directed the festival. “The energy and excitement was palpable and the talent shared with our community was nothing short of amazing. I’m deeply grateful for the generous support from everyone who made this event possible.”

UAC reports they are already looking ahead to 2026 and planning to bring the world’s best dance artists back to Collier County again to benefit our community next year. Dates are not yet released but they shared that people who are interested can sign up for the UAC Best Bets newsletter for announcements as well as reach out to them directly for more information about the festival and ways to support or get involved.

The Naples International Dance Festival is a gift that will keep giving to our community and one we look forward to seeing repeated.

For more information or to get involved, visit https://unitedartscollier.org/naples-international-dance-festival/ or contact United Arts Collier at info@unitedartscollier.org.

About the Dance Festival: The Naples International Dance Festival, an initiative of United Arts Collier, celebrates the art of dance through world-class performances, educational workshops, and community engagement. Bringing together renowned dance companies, educators, and artists from across the globe, the festival creates an enriching experience for both performers and audiences alike, while fostering a love and appreciation for the transformative power of dance.

Naples International Dance Festival (Full Image)

Naples International Dance Festival 2025 Highlights

From dazzling performances by the world’s best dance companies such as the Norwegian National Ballet and GALLIM, to the inspiring dance and wellness conversation led by Dr. Jenny Baxley Lee from the Shands Arts in Medicine program at University of Florida, to student classes with scholarships available for local dancers with educators from companies like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and workshops for all ages including adult classes and a free Dance for Parkinson’s Disease class, the inaugural festival was truly something special. With a SOLD-OUT Opening Night performance and incredible artistry lighting up the stage, we couldn’t have asked for a more spectacular celebration of dance!

But we’re not stopping here. As we set our sights on 2026, we need your help to bring the best of the best in dance to Naples! Your contribution will help make next year’s festival even bigger and better for our community. Whether you choose to be a host for a dancer, provide a student scholarship, donate to bringing the highest caliber of artists here to perform, or explore other ways to get involved, every bit of support makes a world of difference in making this magical event possible.

Join us in supporting the future of dance in Naples—because with you, we can continue to make history on stage. See you in 2026!

The Importance of Your Support

Your support is critical in helping the Naples International Dance Festival 2026 to be a successful, important event that reflects on the arts of Collier County. Please consider a donation to show your passion for this upcoming event.

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