You don’t have to be in a London theatre to explore this year’s Dance Umbrella Festival. Alongside the live programme running from 7–27 October 2026, its Digital Pass remains available until 30 November 2026, bringing contemporary dance films and artist encounters to viewers wherever they are.
What’s included in Dance Umbrella’s 2026 digital programme?
The Odor of Elephants After the Rain — Omar Rajeh & Maqamat
Created in Beirut following the 2020 port explosion, this personal film explores memory, displacement and resilience. The digital selection also includes films from Omar Rajeh’s Spaces of Encounter series.
Gurumbé: Afro-Andalusian Memories
Directed by Miguel Ángel Rosales, this documentary examines the contribution of Afro-Andalusian communities to flamenco, tracing histories of enslavement, music and cultural expression.
The Coast I, The Forest and The Door — Yinka Esi Graves and Miguel Ángel Rosales
Three films from The Disappearing Act project explore landscapes in Spain, Portugal and Ghana marked by colonial histories, displacement and erasure.
Outside In — Candoco Dance Company and MJW Productions
Choreographed by Victoria Marks and filmed by Margaret Williams, this pioneering work features disabled and non-disabled dancers, including Candoco co-founder Celeste Dandeker-Arnold. Originally commissioned for the BBC and Arts Council England’s Dance for Camera series, it challenges narrow ideas about who dance is for.
Poliana Lima: 15 años (15 years)
Poliana Lima reflects on identity, gender, migration, age and belonging in this personal work.
Artist encounters and the wider festival
The digital programme also includes an online presentation of the Artist Encounter with choreographer Akram Khan following its live event. The wider festival brings performances to venues including Sadler’s Wells East, The Place, the Barbican, Rich Mix and the Albany in Deptford.
How to watch
Visit Dance Umbrella’s official website for the Digital Pass, current price, viewing instructions and availability. The announced online viewing period ends on 30 November 2026. The press information does not confirm a pass price, so none has been quoted here.
For more culture and performance coverage, visit Theatre & Culture.
